Photographer and filmmaker Alan Van Wijgerden's 1980s images, some unseen for over 30 years, are now exhibited in his hometown of Coventry. Originally cropped for a 'Fashion' exhibition, the photos are now shown in full, revealing deeper contexts. The collection includes scenes from local artists' homes and student life, reflecting a bygone era before social media. Van Wijgerden, who began photography at age 12, emphasizes the challenges of pre-digital photography. The exhibition, at Art Riot Collective in Fargo Village, supports disabled and neurodivergent artists and runs until 6 May.
Having left college in 1983 photographer and film-maker Alan Van Wijgerden set about collecting stories and images. The photographs, some of which have not been seen for more than 30 years, are now on display in his home town of Coventry .
Some of them were originally shown in an exhibition called Fashion. Originally the images were cropped to focus only on the people, but were now being shown in a "broader context in their complete surroundings," he said.
"There are stories behind a lot of these images and I just about had the money for materials," he said. Some show the homes of local artists, including "the morning after, in a rough, rented student house," he said. The 70-year-old photographer was given his first camera at the age of 12.
"I was just interested in stories, and I suppose it could be called street photography, although that term wasn't about then. ""There wasn't social media about then, and I think photography was much harder. "Everyone's got a phone nowadays, everyone can be a photographer, but back then it was a bit more difficult. "The images are being shown at Art Riot Collective, in Coventry's Fargo Village, an organisation which supports a community of disabled and neurodivergent artists.
"Having been through the special needs system as a kid, I still like to do work that's socially connected," he said. Many of the images, such as this one in Birmingham, haven't been seen since the 1980sHe said he still carries a small digital camera with him most of the time, adding it was an interest "which won't go away". The exhibition had been a "wonderful" experience, he added.
The photographs are on show at Art Riot Collective in Coventry's Fargo Village 1983 by Alan Van Wijgerden is on display at Art Riot Collective, Fargo Village, Coventry, which is open 12:00 - 16:00 Thursday to Sunday until 6 May.
Photography Exhibition Coventry 1980S Socially Engaged Art
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