BLOODY CHUNKS | THE VIETNAMESE UNDERGROUND METAL SCENE
Winner of New York's Photo District News (PDN) Magazine Ultimate Music Moments Award / Cover Story and 4 page feature for BLACK + WHITE Magazine and 2 Solo shows in London + Saigon
KALEID{}ESCAPES ::: 2020/21
Since late 2020 I have been creating these new worlds ::: 'KALEID{}ESCAPES'
::: NEON DUST ::: was created during the last snow fall in the UK in February 2021. These kaleidoscopic artworks mirror the symmetrical shapes of a snowflake. They were made from Neon Dust, Black Light and Snow which acted as the canvas.
(:RAVE ON:) ORDER+CHAOS
In November 2020 I was doing some research for a forthcoming book due out in Spring 2021. Whilst digging through my neg. archives I discovered some photos of some fluro paintings I made in the height of my raving days. As a young photography student, I remember hawking the fluro paintings and a small UV light around to record companies. In the hope that they could be used as artwork cover for musicians - much to the record execs bemusement. So nearly 30 years later, with the help of some repetitive looping beats, I channelled my ‘Rave Spirit’ and reworked these original paintings into these kaleidoscopic artworks.
THE UPSIDE DOWN
The first week was pretty challenging, we had little understanding of what lockdown really meant or how long it would last. People were panic buying - the shelves were emptying. We began to realise the sobering gravity of the global pandemic. We slowly adjusted to the new ab-normal. Work had been replaced by our attempts at homeschooling, trips to the local supermarket were quick sombre affairs. In contrast to all this London was eerily quiet; you could hear the birds sing, feel nature breathe. Unusual for the time of year, we had months of beautiful sunlight.
The title for this work comes from the TV show ‘Stranger Things’, in it there is a dark parallel universe called the ‘The Upside Down’. During this lockdown my kids watched all three seasons - three times.
Welcome to my Print Shop. NM Editions is a bespoke service offering limited edition fine art archival prints, vintage c-types, posters and zines. Since 2015 I have been selling work from my archive which spans over twenty years. This work is now in private and commercial collections in New York, London, Paris, Sydney, Hong Kong, Singapore, Bangkok, Saigon and Tokyo.
Feel free to contact me directly at info@neilmassey.com with any questions.
TESTIMONIAL
"Neil Massey's Photography has his very unique take on Vietnam, the people, the culture and the every day life. I had the great honor to work with him on some projects and it's great to see that he always goes the extra mile for a shot. Usually photos are just a capture of a moment. Neil's pictures are different as they tell a story. They make you curious, you interact and almost having a conversation with them. Vietnam is so rich in traditions and heritage but in the same time open to transform itself into a young, modern and creative nation. I always strive to present and showcase this side of the country and Neil's photography in our company showroom help me do this".
Marian Von Rappard, Vietnam
ARCHIVE * 1989/2019
AN ODE TO: THE BRITISH TELEPHONE BOX
On the streets of London, 'The British Telephone Box' stands battered and beaten; a disused relic from our recent history, still used by a small minority but mainly forgotten. Photographed on the technology that replaced - mobile phones. 'An Ode to: The British Telephone Box' documents the last ones standing. This is my visual poem.
THE VIETNAM COLLECTION
In 2009 I moved to Vietnam where I lived for the next 6 years. I fell in love with Vietnamese culture and its people - Vietnam, a communist country embracing capitalism and undergoing rapid economic and cultural development. This provided the backdrop to a series of long-term photographic projects ('Bloody Chunks', 'Untitled', 'Song' and 'Monobloc') entitled 'The Vietnam Collection'. This body of work explores Vietnamese life - in all its raw unadulterated beauty.
THE FILM COLLECTION
'The Film Collection' (1999-2005) is a body of work photographed on film, using my Mamimya 7ii, Fujifilm GA645zi and Contax T2 cameras.
During this time I lived in London and worked as an editorial photographer shooting youth culture and musicians for then style bible - The Face and the new mag on the block - Sleazenation. 'The Film Collection' captures the youth tribes and musicians at this juncture heading into the new millennium. This was a time when the first camera phone had just been invented (2001), a time when face book and youtube were yet to be launched (2004).
BLOG
ROLLEI + BLOODY CHUNKS
New Rollei Website I'm really excited to share a collaboration I’ve been working on with Rollei. This weekend Rollei launched their new website where you’ll find my work ‘Bloody...
BERKSHIRE ART SCHOOL 1988-90: NICK & HIS TRAVELLER FRIENDS
We knew Nick from the local alternative music scene. Nick was still young but got himself a caravan and set up with a community of New Age Travellers on the...
BERKSHIRE ART SCHOOL 1988-90: ACID
Berkshire College of Art campus was on the back lot of Reading Tech College. My sister's old mini was long gone, I was now driving a red Renault 5. It...