Never Turn Back opens in London for an exclusive short run show.
This unique new photographic exhibition created by award winning image-maker Dean Chalkley is an ode to friendship, space, and free spirit.
Beautifully presented black and white fine art prints reveal a sea brined Yarmouth Coast, dusty junk shops, the curves of an old car as pleasing as a pin up girl, and the kids with feral grins kicking sand under a Norfolk sky.
The ragtag pack made their way across the coast in beat up clothes and beat up cars. Chris and Stephanie Jean from Kill it Kid, Jason from Little Red Kings, writer Aimée Keeble, designer Rhianna Ellington, and Luke Fox from Hello Bear. Dean came for the ride, and for the photos. He got his feet dirty in sand and in the wilder moments of their daily lives. What he captured during those days was cold, and windy, and grey, but it was also green, and luscious, and everlasting. It was this land in all her moody beauty. Never Turn Back is a reminder of where you come from, or where you want to go. The message is in the title- just remember to bring your boots and your leathers with you.
Never Turn Back was first unveiled at Flint in Norwich in October 2015. The exhibition has now hit the road, bringing the spirit of the Norfolk countryside to the capital city. Its destination is theprintspace gallery in Shoreditch London.
The whole project was born out of the shared friendships that are so characteristic of places like Norwich; everyone knows someone who knows someone, especially when there is creativity. The exhibition was conceived when Conor O’Brien, owner of Flint, contacted Dean after visiting Return of the Rudeboy at Somerset House in London during the summer of 2014. Excited by the show, Conor invited Dean to exhibit at Flint. Rather than presenting existing work, Dean proposed something new: a photographic essay revealing Norfolk’s distinctive atmosphere and some of its untamed, young mavericks. Cue mutual friend Rupert Orton, tour promoter and former member of The Jim Jones Revue, who introduced Dean to Chris Turpin of Kill it Kid. They decided to show off East Anglia and her grittiest parts. Chris brought his friends along too as there is plenty of room to rock and roll in this countryside.
Never Turn Back has evolved. theprintspace London show will include a unique edit featuring many new and unseen prints from the original collection. theprintspace gallery will also undergo somewhat of a transformation; an extension of the continuing collaboration between Dean and the prestigious design studio Bibliotheque. The result will be a combination of fine art prints and graphic design. Bibliotheque have designed two complementary Never Turn Back publications that accompany the show, the first for Flint Norwich and the second for theprintspace London. These exclusive publications are available only while stocks last from theprintspace and Flint locations during the exhibition periods.
NEVER TURN BACK > A Photographic Exhibition by Dean Chalkley
theprintspace Shoreditch, London
Fri 4th / Mon 7th / Tues 8th / Wed 9th December
9:00am – 7:00pm
Sat 5th & Sun 6th
12:00 noon – 6:00pm
