SOHO UNLOCKED

A new chapter in London’s most unruly neighbourhood

First shown at the Motel Collection Gallery, London, in August 2022, SOHO UNLOCKED charts the re-emergence of life in the pubs, clubs, theatres and streets of one of London’s most diverse and culturally rich areas.

Soho has always been at the epicentre of the global zeitgeist. Its mix of edginess, sleaze and high class, combined with its ability to constantly change, creates fertile ground for social documentary. Beginning in July 2021, following the lifting of Covid-19 restrictions on the entertainment and hospitality industries, the series captures a distinct new chapter in the history of this popular London district. After receding from public space during lockdown, Londoners returned for delayed sporting events, festive holidays and nights out, mixing again with Soho’s regulars.

To accommodate socialising under new conditions, several streets were closed to traffic. Against the backdrop of distancing rules, venues under pressure and streets patrolled by Covid marshals, a defiant spirit emerged. Raucous release and freedom from constraint returned to the menu. At times, the atmosphere recalled the Soho of the 1990s, when underground subcultures and causes flourished before exerting a wider mainstream influence.

The photographs bring together theatre and bar staff, media workers from post-production studios and private members’ clubs, girls in designer heels, boys on bikes and scooters, small-time dealers, revellers chasing instant thrills and the area’s vibrant LGBTQ+ community. Although cross-generational, there is the unmistakable sense of a new generation arriving and challenging old hegemonies. If Soho remains a sign of the times, the future looks open-minded, inclusive and defiantly alive.