Photographer David Gwinnutt’s show Portraits Trouvés at north London estate agency Currell provided documentation of the drastic transformation of our city through portraiture of some of the leading lights in arts and culture from the 80s to the 10s.
Siouxsie Sioux, 42 Arlington Square, N1, 1982. © David Gwinnutt
”This was taken in hospital when she had the brain tumour but oddly seems to reflect the end of that heroin chic period.” The late photographer Corinne Day, Whitechapel Hospital, east London, 1996. © David Gwinnutt
Timberlina, east London 2009. © David Gwinnutt
”This is an interesting image, showing the now-famous curator years before Sensation at a show of John Maybury’s queer paintings at avant garde gallery B2, which had just become the first UK space to show Robert Mapplethorpe.” Norman Rosenthal, Wapping, 1980. © David Gwinnutt
Trojan, Farrell House, E1, 1983. © David Gwinnutt
“Looking back I see is there is an obvious gay/queer slant and documentation to them,” says Gwinnutt. ‘The black and white 80s photos seem indicative of that Thatcher’s Britain period when AIDS was coming and we queers were still in the shadows.
“The colour ones seem to reflect the reflect the changes and transitioning of certain areas, particularly the East End.”
Leigh Bowery in fur coat, Farrell House, E1, 1983. © David Gwinnutt
Andrew Logan in his studio, New Year’s Eve, 1979/80. © David Gwinnutt
Gilbert & George. Fournier St. E1, c. 1983. © David Gwinnutt
Grayson Perry and Michael Clark. The Heil Mary Club, c. 1984. © David Gwinnutt
Ted Walker, Muriel Street, N1. 2011.© David Gwinnutt
Ryan Styles (now Rhyannon), E8, c. 2008. © David Gwinnutt
Neil Bartlett, Isle of Dogs, east London, c. 1985. © David Gwinnutt
Jonny Woo, Amhurst Road, E8, c. 2006. © David Gwinnutt
Both above: Scenes from this week’s exhibition private view
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