Echoes of the Underground: A conversation with the squat scene, from both sides of the fence, is a group photography exhibition capturing the evolving essence of London’s underground rave culture, focusing on atmosphere and site-specificity.
Featuring work and the written testimonies of four photographers, an exclusive Q&A transcript with an ex-rave organiser, as well as an interview with prolific jump-up DJ Jayline on the night. The exhibition documents the visceral moments, soundscapes, and spatial politics of an often unseen subculture over the last decades.
Curated by Elizabeth Wilkinson, the show explores rave as an act of resistance and community, reclaiming space inside warehouse takeovers. Through fog, flash, and DIY aesthetics, each photographer offers their own lens into a world that pulses beyond the mainstream.
Echoes of the Underground explores the contemporary squat rave scene amidst increasing social and political scrutiny. Set in Peckham’s Safehouse 1, an ostensibly abandoned terrace house, this exhibition
provides insight into London’s underground culture.
Highlighting squatters’ rights, which allow individuals to occupy unused properties temporarily, the exhibition examines how these rights have enabled the transformation of derelict spaces into vibrant cultural hubs for illegal raving. Through the perspectives of creatives and organisers, it navigates the tension between those seeking artistic freedom and law enforcement, which often views these gatherings as disruptive.
As societal dynamics shift and discussions on freedom of expression intensify, this exhibition prompts a reevaluation of the narratives surrounding underground raving. It seeks to illuminate the voices often overlooked in mainstream discourse and reflect on the significance of these cultural spaces in today’s world. My research, focusing on the period from 2013 to 2025, draws from my background in cultural
studies and personal connection to these years.
Featured Photographers:
Amelia is a photographer whose work permeates the space between surveyor and participator. Her strengths are documentary photography, using club light and nightlife as her muse. Organic composition atones for her every image, particularly using 35mm analogue film, the style juxtaposes nostalgia with a clear contemporary setting.
ALL works in the series titled: London Underground, 2021-2022 Shot on Canon 700D and Olympus Mju ii
@Ameliavalentiner
Yushy is a London-based photographer whose work matches the grittiness of the subject content with impeccable image resolution quality. With a transcendent feel to it, Yushy has the unparalleled ability to record a moment you didn’t even know happened. His strengths are his in-depth understanding of interpersonal relationships, street scenes, and the essence of experiences that resonate on a deeper level, inviting viewers to reflect on their own stories.
ALL works in the series titled: Section 65, 2022-2025 Shot on Nikon digital DSLR (D780) @_yushy
Will is a photographer with a style of practice that captures an aestheticwhich has tones of escapism. Defining characteristics are his choice of candid/ melancholic subjects, minimalist compositions and overexposure. Will’s strengths lie in his ability to capture moments that distance the
viewer from the scene yet directly engage them, evoking a sense of detachment.
ALL works in the series titled: Police and Ravers, 2021 Shot on Canon AF-7 @Will14d
Giant Brain Cell A curated online platform which depicts collective hedonism and the conventional tropes of illegal raving. Starry-eyed group pictures, low- resolution images where the grain is so prominent it recreates what a heavy amp next to your head does to you, as well as light beams that puncture smoke-filled rooms, make up this individual’s feed. Their strengths lie in documenting this visceral and unapologetic scene through first-person submission.
Works in the series titled: THANK YOU FOR VISITING, 2024 Office Outlet vs Carpet Right sound clash, 2024 Shot on iPhone 13 Instagram handle: @Giantbraincell
Echoes of the Underground: A conversation with the squat scene, 7th June, 6PM-9PM, Safehouse 1
For one night only, in true squat rave fashion – Free Entry RSVP is essential assistant.echoesof@gmail.com
