Seen and Heard

The goal of the Seen and Heard project is to create a photographic monograph exploring the intersection of popular music and fashion across multiple genres. It builds upon a previous, more niche research project in which I examined Vivienne Westwood’s influence on Punk fashion. I have sought to expand the scope by incorporating a broader range of genres and increasing the creative depth.

Zine-Scale Photobook

Having developed a passion for the Publications and Outputs unit during my first year—where I produced my own zine New Motives—the accessible, grassroots nature of the subject matter naturally lent itself to a zine-scale photobook as the ideal visual output for my final undergraduate project. This format allowed me to evolve my original Britpop- and Grime-inspired zine into a more expansive and polished piece.

Models

Instead of working with professional models, Seen and Heard needed to portray the real people shaping both the music and its accompanying fashion. This made the project an opportunity to highlight young artists and bands, showcasing their style while also promoting their music. By celebrating individuality—both in personal expression and in the collective connections formed through music—the project reinforces themes of identity, which have been central to many of my projects throughout my time at UCA.

Inspiration

The project draws inspiration from my personal experiences—growing up listening to my father’s music collection, developing my own tastes across genres, and attending a range of live performances. In many ways, his eclectic musical preferences shaped my own, and as an homage, I incorporated visual references from his youth, such as classic 7” single label designs. This connection came full circle when I realized that, while studying at Polytechnic, my father attended student union gigs featuring emerging bands of the time—such as U2. Now, I find myself at similar gigs, watching performances from Inhaler, whose lead singer, Elijah Hewson, is the son of Bono.

Production

Over three weeks, I photographed eleven different fans and performers, each representing one of six distinct genres: Punk, Country, Britpop, Pop, Indie Rock, and Hip-Hop. Each shoot took place in a unique location carefully selected to reflect the genre, with styling meticulously planned through extensive pre-production work, scouting, and test shoots. Though intentional in direction, the images needed to retain a documentary-style authenticity—an approach inspired by the work of Steph Wilson and Clementine Schneiderman, both Taylor Wessing Prize winners. Additionally, having explored Jeanie Jean’s photography in my Punk/Vivienne Westwood research, I integrated her visual style as a key reference. Using insights from this earlier research, I ensured that each genre remained distinct, with styling choices—clothing, makeup, and presentation—capturing the essence of their cultural and aesthetic identities.