VINCA PETERSEN

Vinca Petersen is a British photographer and artist, living on the Isle of Skye. Her work consists of documentary-style photography captured with a diaristic narrative as she travels across the world photographing different cultures – in particular the rave / party culture around Europe in the 90s, which was the product and main focus for her photobook ‘No System’ A ten year long documentation of her journey around Europe in 1990s, putting on illegal free raves and festivals with other Techno Travellers. This photobook became amongst her most known works due to its unique outlook on rave culture and shows an insider perspective through the eyes of Petersen and her friends who travelled around solely to experience raves and festivals in different areas. ‘No System’ Includes some of my favourite images taken by Petersen that inspired me to use her as an artist reference or my own project – She takes photos of ravegoers in their element with photos full of colour and vibrancy, and documents the journey of going to a festival – from the massive crowds to the riots and fires that occur, capturing photos of subjects dancing amongst raging flames which a slightly blurry lens to paint a chaos-filled landscape. However along with capturing the madness and danger of raves, Petersen also captures the quieter moments of travelling – some photos depict her friends in peaceful, relaxed states – whether swimming in a lake, lying on a beach or simply lounging around as they prepare to travel to their next destination. Along with creating photobooks and documenting her love for travelling and raves, Petersen has worked with many different youth groups and charities across the world, most of which she has discovered whilst travelling.

Along with ‘No System’, Petersen released a second photobook about travelling to illegal raves / festivals, titled ‘Raves and Riots 1999-2004’ Displayed as a solo exhibition after the success of ‘No System’ this photobook isn’t based on one particular journey and is a collection of random images taken at different locations around Europe, such as England, Czech Republic, Italy, etc. ‘Raves & Riots’ is simply a showcase of Petersen and her friends having fun, capturing moments of freedom in travelling and the adrenaline of dangerous situations such as riots, protests and run-ins with the police. Not only do the photographs form a vital record of a unique moment in recent history – on the cusp of a digital era, when there was arguably more freedom to stage gatherings in such a way – but, as Petersen says, they are just as relevant today. “As we were putting the show together we realised it’s completely reflective of right now – so many of the images could be from today,” she said in an interview to anothermag.com. Through this project, Petersen shares the freedom and the continued importance of raving and rioting.

Petersen is also friends with famous photographer Corinne Day, who is known for her raw and gritty documentary photography style or herself and her friends. In 1999, Day was paid to do a road trip in Texas and invited Petersen along with her – there she captured around 200 images of the four of them on their roadtrip and created a photobook titled Deuce and a Quarter. Petersen states her book is about women together, having an adventure. She says ‘We had no phones with us, we just felt very free, and untraceable. No one knew where we were. It’s about four women, on a road trip, doing fairly dangerous things at times, but mainly just mucking about. No one fell out, no one got hurt, there was no disaster, and they don’t die at the end like Thelma and Louise. They just have a really great time!’ The final product of the book is composed of images depicting Petersen and her friends doing everyday activities – the majority of images are taken in the car, but although these photos may be simple and not particularly eye-catching they still carry the atmosphere of freedom and fun that Petersen aimed to convey in her work, upholding her typical documentary-style narrative that runs through her projects. Although this project does not inspire me as much as No System does, i still like it as it is a unique depiction of an everyday activity such as driving and showcases the feeling of freedom through soft lighting featuring colours like pastel blues, purple and yellows to convey the relaxed atmosphere of the journey.

IMAGE ANALYSIS

This image taken from Raves & Riots is amongst my favourites by Petersen and is also the photo i feel is closest to the images i have produced due to its bold, vibrant colours and shaky slightly blurred camera. This photo taken during what appears to be a riot depicts a figure surrounded by flames and debris. The subject is running in the middle of the photo, the flames behind her display a bold orange lighting that illuminates the background of the photo and leaves darker red and brown tones to seep into the foreground of the image – this contrasts the figure from the flames and creates a primary viewpoint. Colour theory plays a major role in this image – the red colours symbolize anger, chaos, destruction. Paired with the raging flames and blurry figure this creates a hectic atmosphere which helps create a story behind the image.