Jamie Reid Casting Seeds: The Florrie, Liverpool – photograph gallery

Seminal art-punk Jamie Reid exhibits work including that of The Sex Pistols in Liverpool as Mick Head and guests join in the opening night celebration, Getintothis‘ Amaan Khan and John Johnson report.

If British punk had a two-dimensional yet furious image, it was the ransom-note style pioneered in Jamie Reid’s work, most notably, the artwork for Sex Pistols’ Anarchy in the UK which brought it to the masses.

Punk like that, which is about standing against something, comfortably found shelter at The Florrie, a beautiful piece of Liverpool’s architecture and history that has stood against political, financial adversities and the test of time. As the opening night of Reid’s Casting Seeds exhibition progressed, people in good numbers came by out of their love for punk’s ethos and it’s visual dynamic, the building itself and for the musicians on tonight’s bill.

Throughout the bottom floor, among the corridors and the three rooms housing Florrie-related antiques, were merchandise and artworks easily identifiable from The Sex Pistols’ career – complete with their direct, sloganeering anarchist messages.

As boldly as the featured colours and through interesting juxtaposition of elements, the artworks projected anti-authority messages featuring the Queen with her mouth shut by a safety pin, or letters politely wishing her ‘No Future’.

The top floors featured more aesthetic-based psychedelic artworks including some larger exhibits. Adding variety to the event, 50 Foot Warrior presented their reverberating punk-rock followed by “The Bard of Liverpool” Michael Head alongside Tea Street Band’s Timo Tierney on guitars.

As a significant portion of the crowd dispersed after the musical performances, genuine smiles reflected people’s satisfaction from witnessing brilliant artwork and the sense of community among people who care for the city and its lost history.

Photographs by Getintothis’ John Johnson.

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