Previously unseen photographs of people dancing in nightclubs have been published in a book shining a light on London‘s niche hotspots and the subculture of the late 1990s.
The pictures were taken by photographer Ewen Spencer who would travel up from his home in Brighton each weekend between 1998 and 2001 to capture the images for the style magazine Sleazenation, based in Shoreditch.
The magazine ceased publication in 2003, but during the first lockdown Spencer came across the images while helping his father rescue a digital archive from a hard drive.
The chance encounter inspired him to create a book, and a conversation with his father helped provide the inspiration for its title: While You Were Sleeping.
Speaking to the Guardian, Spencer said: ‘His eyes upon it made me realise the significance of it.
‘He said to me “When were you doing this?” and I said “While you were sleeping”.’
A graduate from the Brighton School of Art, Spencer said he was inspired by German photographer Wolfgang Tillmans, who he said captured the experience of Berlin nightlife in ‘360’.
He said he chose to visit London’s niche hotspots rather than the big glossy venues popular in the 90s in order to capture the subculture at that time.
The pictures were taken with a film camera which had just 12 exposures on each, meaning Spencer had to choose his subjects wisely, often choosing people lost in the music or conversation rather than those craving attention.
Looking back at the time, Spencer said what he was doing for Sleazenation more than twenty years ago is what people are doing today with unlimited photos taken on their smartphones and documented on their social media accounts.
Dancer, Queer Nation Sub Station, South Brixton, in 1999. The photographs were given to Sleazenation’s photographic director, Steve Lazarides, who chose to publish some of them in black and white to capture what it meant to be young and British
Infernos, Clapham High Street, in 1998. Ewen Spencer, a graduate from the Brighton School of Art, said he was inspired by Wolfgang Tillmans, who he said captured the experience of Berlin nightlife in ‘360’
Round Twentys Holiday Reunion, Prestatyn, in 1999. Spencer said he chose to visit London’s niche hotspots rather than the big glossy venues popular in the 90s in order to capture the subculture at that time
Brixton Trance 2, in 2000. Spencer travelled up from his home in Brighton on each weekend between 1998 and 2001 to capture the images for the style magazine Sleazenation, based in Shoreditch
The Cross Coal Drop Yard, in Kings Cross, in 2000. Sleazenation stopped publishing its magazine in 2003, but the photos Spencer took were discovered two decades later
Deep Funk, Madame Jo Jos, Soho, in 1999. A conversation Spencer had with his father when they discovered the images helped provide the inspiration for the book’s title: While You Were Sleeping
Pass the Mic, WKD bar, Kentish Town, in 1999. Spencer was inspired to publish the images in a book after his father discovered the images and asked when he was doing that. ‘While you were sleeping’, he replied
Gumballs, The Cross Coal Drop Yard, in Kings Cross, in 2000. Spencer said he made himself part of the niche nightclub scene in the late 90s to ensure he was photographing something he understood
The Lovers, Sonik Mook Experiment, 333 Old Street, in 1998. Spencer said he had just 12 exposures on each roll of film, meaning he had to choose his subjects wisely, often choosing people lost in the music or conversation rather than those craving attention
DC, Nottingham Rock City. Spencer, looking back on his photos from the 1990s, said what he was doing for Sleazenation more than twenty years ago is what people are doing with their smartphones and social media now
- While You Were Sleeping 1998-2000 by Ewen Spencer is published by Damiani www.damianieditore.com at £40.