Such a thing as society

This autumn sees the launch of a major new book and exhibition devoted to examining the multiplicities of photography during 1980s Britain. Peter Dench finds out more

- Peter Dench

1980s Britain. A payload of nostalgia, a time bomb of memories. Football hooliganism, Acid House parties, shoulder pads, yuppies, Charles and Diana, unemployment, bewildering advertisements aimed to educate the public about HIV/AIDS and prevent its spread, economic upheaval, social tension, city-wide riots, bombings, de-industrialisation and of course, Margaret Thatcher. You’ll likely have your personal, immediately-comes-to-mind list from this divisive decade, the events of which still ricochet today.

With all seismic social, political and economic shifts there is bedfellow photography. Tate Britain has taken on the task of presenting a landmark survey which will present the decade as a pivotal moment for the medium. It’s about time for Tate to step up. Opened in 1897 and home to the world’s largest collection of works by painter JMW Turner, it only started collecting photography in the 1990s.

The concept for The 80s: Photographing Britain was sparked by Yasufumi Nakamori, then Senior Curator of International Art (Photography) at Tate (2018-2023) now Director of the Asia Society Museum, New York. Nakamori recognised the need for a show at Tate to really consider British photography on the period. Initial discussions began four to five years ago. Deep work on the exhibition two to three years ago. Two weeks from install and ephemera was still arriving, deadlines screaming. Alongside Nakamori, the exhibition is edited by Helen Little, Curator, British Art, Tate Britain and Dr Jasmine Chohan, Assistant Curator, Contemporary British Art, Tate Britain. There is additional support from within Tate and discourse fed in from experts, networks, galleries and institutions across the photography world.