Ewen Spencer : While You Were Sleeping

While You Were Sleeping is the latest body of work from Brit Photographer Ewen Spencer. After graduating from art school in the 90s, Spencer started documenting London’s then-exploding nightlife scene for Sleazenation. Channeling the sharp, confronting style of photography greats like Chris Killip and Mark Power, but in London’s underground nightclubs, Spencer’s images from these years capture a city at the epicenter of a cultural boom – clubs were popping up in every corner of the city, and young people were out in hoards every night of the week.

To some of us now, this seems like a distant memory, but maybe looking back at this carefree past will also serve to inspire our futures. Nearly 30 years on, these images are brought together in Spencer’s latest book and exhibition at Laz Emporium, While You Were Sleeping. Featuring never-before-seen photographs, the images in Spencer’s book capture the carefree spirit of the time, with beautiful shots of crowded venues which reverberate with energy, sweat, sexual tension, and drug-fuelled abandon.

‘While You Were Sleeping’ is open now daily 11-7 (12-6 Sun) @lazemporium 25 Lexington Street Soho LDN W1F 9AH http://www.lazemporium.com/

With texts from Elaine Constantine and in conversation w Justin Quirk.

Art Direction by Scott King Published by Damiani Editore, 2022. Printed in Bologna, Italy.

https://ewenspencer.com/