IN A SWEET HARMONY

'Sweet Harmony Youth of Today', recaptures my favourite era of the 90's that emerged from the Detroit acid house scene which is being exhibited today at Saatchi Gallery.

Ted Polhemus, Nice Tripsies 1993, Saatchi Gallery

Acid house music migrated from post-industrial Detroit to the dance floors of gay clubs in New York and London and fortunately for me, to illegal raves in warehouses and farmers’ fields across the UK in the early 90’s, where I was studying at the time.

Sweet Harmony: Youth of Today relives this 'Second Summer of Love' on its 30th anniversary through the voices and eyes of those who experienced one of the most significant counter-cultural phenomena in musical history. Saatchi Gallery Director Philly Adams is the brainchild who wanted to produce this immersive retrospective of the glory days of rave culture in all its rawness. The event will be featuring multimedia installations, audio-visual works, typographic accounts, photography, live music events, and panel discussions by the architects and influencers giving personal insight on the movement.

"It brings together contributors from past and present, championing new, celebrating current and re-positioning revered artists closely linked to the story," says Philly. "I’ve long been thinking about creating this exhibition for its historical importance and relevance to the music scene today.

Photographers featured include Tom Hunter, Vinca Peterson, Ted Polhemus, Derek Ridgers, Matthew Smith, Ewen Spencer and Dave Swindells, Chelsea Louise Berlin and Seana Gavin.