…And Fuck Off a Second Time: Collaborative Notes on Fashion and Dissent (In-Person and Online Interactive session. 1st November 2022)

Photographer: Neil Philip Whitehead. Model Bradley Tuck. For “Fuck Off“.

In 2015, in an attempt to subvert Fashion Magazines like i-D, Dazed and Vogue, a group of creatives that would later become Exploding Appendix flirted with the idea of creating a fashion blog that would mix together fashion photography and punchy and provocative prose.  For their first piece, inspired by Jayne County’s 1977 punk rock anthem ‘Fuck Off’, Bradley Tuck wrote about the power and politics of the phrase ‘Fuck Off’, and Neil Philip Whitehead worked on the photography. As Bradley Tuck notes,

“There is something strangely beautiful and genuinely empowering about the phrase “fuck off.” Of course, it depends who is saying it. It is not particularly empowering to be on the receiving end, but at least you know that the person uttering it is most likely making a prompt exit. They are gone and that is that. That is why the “fuck off” brigade are nearly always preferable to the “woe is me” brigade. The spirit of “fuck off” tends to avoid a kind of noxious psychic vampirism that lingers like a bad smell. The spirit of “fuck off” is swift, sharp and to the point and bypasses that annoying passive aggression that winds up stifling our everyday thoughts and actions. When someone says “fuck off” you know where you stand.”

The Fashion Offensive: #1. FUCK OFF

By exploring the spirit of the phrase ‘Fuck Off’ and its connection to counter-culture, this first piece attempted to foster a polemical engagement with fashion.  Seven years have passed, and it seems appropriate to critically reflect on our changing times, changing politics and changing styles. In an attempt to relaunch this project, we share a range of artistic interventions and critical reflections on fashion. Expect an eventing filled with film, photography, zines, prose, clothes, and other art.

This session will be run as part of the Exploding Appendix Avant-garde Art Practice and Research Group’s meetup which happens every three weeks. The sessions are free and open to everyone.

The online session will also take place via Zoom (https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81603193344?pwd=SmpMSkpOUzBxS1E4VWgzQ2Q0cU5nQT09). The meeting ID is 816 0319 3344.  The passcode is “826422”.

This session will take place both online via Zoom and in person at The Artist Residence, Brighton, UK. The Artists Residence can be found on 33 Regency Square, Brighton, BN1 2GG. Join us in Venue from 7pm and online from 7:30pm (UK time). To book a free place in the venue, click here. For any questions  please message me at explodingappendix@gmail.com

This session will be run by Bradley Tuck and take place on Tuesday the 1st November 2022 from 19:00 – 22:00 (UK time). If you have any questions please message me at explodingappendix@gmail.com