Raymond Depardon's photo series captured everyday life in some of Glasgow's most deprived neighbourhoods amid the grind of Thatcher's Britain.
One of my fave photo series.
One of my fave photo series.
I once stumbled across photos by French photographer Raymond Depardon.
There is obvious social deprivation, but the bubble gum is this fun, playful touch that gives a nice balance between the dark and light side of life in the city.
There is obvious social deprivation, but the bubble gum is this fun, playful touch that gives a nice balance between the dark and light side of life in the city.
In 1980, French photojournalist Raymond Depardon was commissioned by a British newspaper to shoot a story in Glasgow. He knew nothing about the city and couldn't speak English either.
The result was a poetic and eerie photo series capturing everyday life in some of the city's most deprived neighbourhoods amid the grind of Thatcher's Britain.
Depardon's stills show ball games in between boarded-up houses, family strolls along barren concrete walls, and elderly couples waiting for the bus opposite burned-down tower blocks.
Raymond Depardon:
"I went to the wealthy neighbourhoods from Glasgow, but these areas were not very interesting. I went to golf courses, to tearooms, but I couldn't get anything. Wealth there couldn't be seen as easily. It was discreet. "
"I went to the wealthy neighbourhoods from Glasgow, but these areas were not very interesting. I went to golf courses, to tearooms, but I couldn't get anything. Wealth there couldn't be seen as easily. It was discreet. "
Raymond Depardon:
"A Glaswegian bourgeoisie did exist, but a Mini Cooper next to a golf course with a guy in a cashmere jumper does not really make a photograph."
"A Glaswegian bourgeoisie did exist, but a Mini Cooper next to a golf course with a guy in a cashmere jumper does not really make a photograph."
Depardon:
"Coming back from the Middle East, it was gift in comparison to men armed with Kalashnikovs banning me from photographing them. So Glasgow was bliss."
"Coming back from the Middle East, it was gift in comparison to men armed with Kalashnikovs banning me from photographing them. So Glasgow was bliss."
Depardon:
"At the time, I didn't know much about Thatcher's government and British politics. But now I see how these images show the violence of the era – especially the closure of industrial zones and mass unemployment."
"At the time, I didn't know much about Thatcher's government and British politics. But now I see how these images show the violence of the era – especially the closure of industrial zones and mass unemployment."
Depardon:
"I was almost scared of people – in a good way. And I couldn't understand a word of what they were saying.
I did not respect the rules of the assignment, these pictures were never published. But I'm glad local people are able to see them now."
"I was almost scared of people – in a good way. And I couldn't understand a word of what they were saying.
I did not respect the rules of the assignment, these pictures were never published. But I'm glad local people are able to see them now."
