Section 63: Underground & Unmasted – Documenting Underground London Raves

Description

The Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 was introduced to shut down free parties and squat parties, marking a pivotal moment in the UK’s cultural history. Widely condemned as an attack on youth culture, the law triggered a wave of protests and resistance, sparking a domino effect that reshaped the underground music scene.

Fast forward over 30 years, and the state of UK dance music is in crisis. Since the pandemic, three nightclubs have closed every week — over 150 per year — painting a bleak picture for the future. At this pace, all UK nightclubs could vanish by 2029.

In Section 63: Underground & Unmasted – Documenting Underground London Raves, photographer Yushy documents the growing hunger for the DIY spirit of dance music, a renaissance of feeling reminiscent of the early 90s. Embedding himself with various crews across London, Yushy gained their trust and friendship, stepping into their world and their fight to reclaim forgotten spaces to play music for the people just for a night.

In a city fiercely protective of its space, he captures the stark reality: a landscape filled with emptiness, disused buildings, and forgotten corners, where young people risk it all to create something meaningful.

Building on his previous work documenting dance music culture, this book is a seamless continuation — showcasing Yushy’s signature style, where each image feels timeless, rooted in the moment yet echoing the past.

Quotes

“Yushy’s one of the most exciting photojournalists currently working in the UK: a vital and fearless documentarian of today’s underground subcultures, and the heir to legends like Alan Lodge, Vinca Petersen, Seana Gavin and Matthew Smith. His work on everything from raves to riots has been urgent and insightful, revealing otherwise hidden moments of beauty and telling a powerful story about modern British identity and social history.” Ed Gillett (author of Party Lines: Dance Music and the Making of Modern Britain)

“Yushy’s eye captures both the essence and the hyperreal. Dazzling photos so vivid it’s as if these still images are sentient. His quiet omnipresence in the space coupled with his raw passion and pride make me honoured to work so closely with him. One of a kind.” Rishi Bagdai (Outlook Festival curator)