MARGATE.- Turner Contemporary is presenting Resistance, an exhibition conceived by acclaimed artist and filmmaker Steve McQueen and curated in collaboration with Clarrie Wallis. The exhibition explores how acts of resistance have shaped life in the UK and the powerful role of photography in documenting and driving change. A major new publication, released by 4th Estate, accompanies the exhibition.
Renowned for amplifying underrepresented voices, McQueen contributes a compelling exploration of overlooked histories, shedding light on the forgotten stories of individuals whose actions have helped define Britain's history.
Presenting a century of activism, Resistance spans from the radical suffrage movement in 1903 to the largest-ever protest in Britain’s history—the Anti-Iraq War Protest in 2003. The exhibition brings together works by renowned photographers such as Vanley Burke, Henry Grant, Fay Godwin, Edith Tudor-Hart, Tish Murtha, Humphrey Spender, Christine Spengler, Andrew Testa, Paul Trevor and Janine Wiedel, alongside less-known photographers who documented these powerful stories.
Drawing photographs from various archives, collections and image libraries, Resistance deliberately focuses on moments captured before digital cameras became commonplace.
The exhibition highlights lesser-known events including the Blind March of 1920—a pivotal moment in the fight for disability rights, and the hunger marches of the 1930 —protesting unemployment and poverty. It explores the intersections between movements such as the Gay Liberation Front and the Women’s Liberation Movement, where protests against Section 28 of the Local Government Act brought the LGBTQ+ community together. Connecting historic struggles, the exhibition also examines the fight against fascism in the 1930s and 1940s, including the Battle of Cable Street, while drawing parallels with the Battle of Lewisham in 1977.
Resistance underscores the ongoing struggle against racism, showing how grassroots movements have consistently confronted oppression throughout history. A pivotal moment was the Black People’s Day of Action on 2 March 1981, following the house fire at 439 New Cross Road that claimed 13 lives. The photographs that captured the protest powerfully depict this landmark for Britain’s Black civil rights movement. Paul Trevor’s series on the Bengali community in the East End further illustrates how the emerging concept of community photography became a form of activism, amplifying the voices of marginalised groups.
Visitors will encounter poignant images from demonstrations against environmental destruction, anti-nuclear campaigns and actions advocating for peace. The exhibition traces the evolution of environmental movements, as well as highlight a shift from single-issue demonstrations to broader anti-capitalist efforts, that paved the way for today’s climate change action. From Janine Wiedel’s photographs capturing life at Greenham Common Women’s Peace Camp to Andrew Testa’s striking depictions of the 1996 protests against the proposed A30 Honiton Bypass, Resistance serves as a testament to the empowering impact of collective action.
Steve McQueen said, “This exhibition and book explores how people have challenged the status quo—a mission that feels especially urgent in today's political climate.”
The exhibition is the culmination of a four-year research project, guided by exhibition advisors Professor Sundari Anitha, Dr Diane Atkinson, Tony Baldwinson, Justin Bengry, Stella Dadzie, Professor Paul Gilroy, Professor Paul Jackson, Nicholas Jones, Professor Jenny Pickerill, Dr Matthias Reiss, Professor Lisa Tickner and Vron Ware.
Clarrie Wallis said, “The Ampersand Foundation Award provides vital support for curators to realise ambitious exhibitions amid arts funding scarcity. The award enabled Turner Contemporary to mount a groundbreaking exhibition in Margate, Resistance, with artist and filmmaker Steve McQueen. This photography exhibition reframes conventional narratives of British history, prompting viewers to reconsider our shared past.”
Resistance is curated by Steve McQueen and Clarrie Wallis, with Emma Lewis. Political research is by Sarah Harrison. The exhibition is produced by Tessa Pierce, with assistance from Brittany Crombie.
Concurrent with the exhibition, Mona Hatoum's Hot Spot transforms Turner Contemporary's Sunley Gallery. This steel globe, approximately the size of a person's height and arm span, tilts at the same angle as the Earth itself, its continents traced in red neon. The cage-like structure and fierce glow present our world as a universal danger zone, powerfully evoking global conflicts, border tensions, and the climate emergency.
