AFTER DADA BEFORE COMPUTER
The 80s cassette scene is culturally significant existing in a space outside of commercial and cultural institutions.
This project is a photographic exploration of the graphic identity of underground tape culture using details from a personal collection collated during 1980-1983.
The focus is the collage work of Robert Lawrence and the publishing work of Serious Art Foundation.
Visual
synchronicity with audio as a unit of communication is a powerful structure
that resonated deeply within the cassette scene.
Identity and the distribution of ideas and often anti corporate anti consumerist ideas had a strong role within the scene.
Identity and the distribution of ideas and often anti corporate anti consumerist ideas had a strong role within the scene.
Singular projects with
human contacts can be more relatable than the mass production of commercial
music. Exchange of personal creative projects and developing cultural bonds was key
and more central than an exchange of currency.
This underground practice was in direct contrast to the obsession with capital wealth which came to define the era. It is also in direct contrast to the current economic wealth creation that collectors have initiated around this culture.
Cassette culture of the early 80s was heavily influenced by the collage work of the dada movement. Rudimentary paste up techniques were employed in a time before the dominance of the home desktop computer. Robert Lawrence intricately created a unique presence within the basic graphic structure of the fold out cassette sleeve.
The collage detail below from Broken Pipes Exposed 3 cover is in the same cultural space and time as Linder collage work. Interestingly Quick Stab Music Products did release a Ludus tape and Linder was their lead singer.
This underground practice was in direct contrast to the obsession with capital wealth which came to define the era. It is also in direct contrast to the current economic wealth creation that collectors have initiated around this culture.
Cassette culture of the early 80s was heavily influenced by the collage work of the dada movement. Rudimentary paste up techniques were employed in a time before the dominance of the home desktop computer. Robert Lawrence intricately created a unique presence within the basic graphic structure of the fold out cassette sleeve.
The collage detail below from Broken Pipes Exposed 3 cover is in the same cultural space and time as Linder collage work. Interestingly Quick Stab Music Products did release a Ludus tape and Linder was their lead singer.