Bringing 1983 back to life through photography
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Vanessa Pearce
West Midlands
Alan Van Wijgerden
Alan Van Wijgerden has been documenting his life for more than 50 years
Having left college in 1983 photographer and film-maker Alan Van Wijgerden set about collecting stories and images.
The photographs, some of which have not been seen for more than 30 years, are now on display in his home town of Coventry.
They depict scenes from across the country, including Brixton, Oxford and Birmingham.
Some of them were originally shown in an exhibition called Fashion.
"Not fashion in the haute couture sense," he said.
"This was fashion in a much broader sense."
Originally the images were cropped to focus only on the people, but were now being shown in a "broader context in their complete surroundings," he said.
Alan Van Wijgerden
The morning after in a 'rough, rented student house'
"There are stories behind a lot of these images and I just about had the money for materials," he said.
"Staying in a squat in South London... and a peace camp for the Oxford photos."
Some show the homes of local artists, including "the morning after, in a rough, rented student house," he said.
Alan Van Wijgerden
This image in Bentley, near Doncaster, captures a social protest
The 70-year-old photographer was given his first camera at the age of 12.
In 1983 he had just left college.
"Well, good old polytechnic as it was then," he said.
"I was just interested in stories, and I suppose it could be called street photography, although that term wasn't about then."
The year pre-dated digital photography entirely, he added.
"There wasn't social media about then, and I think photography was much harder.
"Everyone's got a phone nowadays, everyone can be a photographer, but back then it was a bit more difficult."
Alan Van Wijgerden
The exhibition includes this one of a BBC WM car in Birmingham
The images are being shown at Art Riot Collective, in Coventry's Fargo Village, an organisation which supports a community of disabled and neurodivergent artists.
"Having been through the special needs system as a kid, I still like to do work that's socially connected," he said.
"Making connections with communities is what I'm most happy doing."
Alan Van Wijgerden
Many of the images, such as this one in Birmingham, haven't been seen since the 1980s
Alan Van Wijgerden
The photographer has amassed hundreds of thousands of images
He said he still carries a small digital camera with him most of the time, adding it was an interest "which won't go away".
He also captures videos at local events of participants and organisers, which are shared
on his Facebook page.
The exhibition had been a "wonderful" experience, he added.
"I'm a bit blown away by it to be honest".
Alan Van Wijgerden
The photographs are on show at Art Riot Collective in Coventry's Fargo Village
1983 by Alan Van Wijgerden is on display at Art Riot Collective, Fargo Village, Coventry, which is open 12:00 - 16:00 Thursday to Sunday until 6 May.
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Related internet links
Art Riot Collective
Alan Van Wijgerden
Photography
Birmingham
Coventry