Exist To Resist: Activism, History and Having It..

Matthew Smith (Mattko) has decided it’s time he did a photo book, one of which that highlights the social history of the UK, through very turbulent times, coming out of Thatcher’s Concervatitive era to that of John Major’s Concervatitive Government, Mayday 1997 saw a change a General Election, a new Prime Minister – Tony Blair a Labour Government…

Exist to Resist is a social history book of born out of a love for UK’s rave, sound system, and festival culture. It is a photographic celebration of community gathering and grass roots democratic activism in images made between 1989 and 1997.

Mattko Kickstarter Film from Mattko on Vimeo.

ClownGirl Harvest Fayre Cilgerran Wales 94

After over a decade and a half of Conservative government a great culture of resistance and opposition had arisen and become embedded within British society. Acid house and rave served as the musical soundtrack that united all of those disparate sub-cultural tribes in one mission; to gather, dance and celebrate together for free.

I grew up through the 1980’s and 90’s, time’s were tough for people, the country was in a recession in both decades, high unemployment, but the one thing we did have, were Free Parties and Raves, a huge shift in the music scene, a change in fashion, people’s attitudes, this is what Matthew Smith has captured in his book, the elements of activism, music and gatherings.

Life now is all about Social Media, the Internet, Smart Phones, CCTV Camera’s, constantly being watched by the Government, tracked where ever you go… We have less FREEDOM!

Please go and support Matt’s Kickstarter, I have 🙂