The Club Kids

The New York Club scene of the late eighties; was one of the most decadent distasteful expressions of 20th century extravagance. Led by the notorious Michael Alig and James St James, they gave birth to a group of reckless individuals who indulged in heavy drug use and extraodinary costume.

As Michael Alig & the Club Kids notoriety grew so did Alig’s influence, he was often paid to attend clubs with his entourage to ensure a new influx of customers.
However popularity and fame are inherently linked to the vices of jealousy and violence. The film ‘Party Monster’ details the rise and fame of Alig. The film progresses through his string of impromptu parties, club performances and TV interviews. During this time James St James becomes growingly jealous of fame he believed he deserved. Their subsequent disputes were the first signposts to trouble in paradise.

With a psychedelic excess of drugs Alig became be crazed with his own self importance. Ultimately this led to the murder of Angel Melendez from 3 blows of a hammer to the head and then bleach poured down his throat. 3 days later, motivated by the disgusting smell, Alig indulged in a shot of heroin before chopping the legs off the corpse stuffing him in a box and throwing him off the Hudson River.

Alig confessed to this murder to many of his disciples yet his boy who cried wolf nature and the drug excesses led to no one believing him. The body was subsequently washed to shore several months later and Alig was finally highlighted as the perpetrator and was sentenced for 10-20 years for manslaughter. Alig is still serving this sentence.

Terry World - Terry Richardson

Terry Richardson, an infamous leader in the fashion photography world. His disgusting and vulgar nature provides the appeal to his work. Selections of his works are so perverse, they would not be legally sold as pornography. Despite this reputation which generates much public disgust he is grossly in demand. Top magazines are clamouring to feature his work whilst celebrities fight to be the latest feature.

His celebrity models have stretched the entire cultural spectrum from the usually risqué Macauley Culkin and Jackass cast to respected figures such as Barack Obama. the level of perversion alters dependent on the clientele allowing him to work with such a wide cast.










I recently purchased his book Terryworld which includes many of his most profane works. Some of the images were described as disgusting by members of my house; however I failed to see the book as shocking. Instead i found it rather amusing, particularly the photo below.


This publication to me marks a change in society. Where such levels of crude imagery become normalised. A variety of online and offline stockists have sold this book to much success; quantifying our taste for such images. His works stretches the limits of 'art' to the extreme without using this as the selling point.

A talented photographer and truly modern individual he represents the forefront of western culture today.

For more Pictures see theBlog;Main Website

Dash Snow, Club 27.

Dash Snow was an artist of his own demise. Disregarding High society to drown with the New York hoi polloi. Sex, drugs and self-destruction are the key characteristics of both his personal life and works. His life was as much a part of his art, as his photographs.

He represented a part of the freshest frontier of Modern Art. Alike previous waves of progression dividing opinion on its definition as 'Art'. His works also showed the final progress of vulgarity in art.Whether it be his glitter encrusted ejaculations upon images of Sadam Hussain or a Photograph of a guy snorting cocaine from another man's penis. Whether you are a fan or find this to be trash, it is undeniable his work manages to elicit an opinion from notable members of the art community.

His birth into New Yorks elite provided him with all that money could buy. However the social constraints associated were infuriating to Snow. A born wild-child rebel, he was destined to follow the path many had laid down before. Where troubled children of the well-to-do families sink into the hole of drugs. Inevitably landing at the bottom of suicide leaving behind young children and a trail of destruction.

His rejection of privilige which gained him much respect is however poorly grounded. For his rejection was only recognisable when he was on top form and not in a drug induced state of paranoia and pitty. Extensive stints in Rehab, affording drugs, access to media attention and his lifestyle were all underpinned by the Society he claimed to reject.

whilst failing to revolutionise modern art in the way of fellower new yorker Andy Warhol, he did provide a stepping stone to the next Warhol. I hope Dash Snow's name can live on a little longer. I sadly however imagine his work is already gathering dust, an awkward testimony to the man who failed to live long enough to realise his full potential.