Chemistry

"Growing up in the 80's, questions of style and music and youth culture, all seemed inherently political -like gay rights issues, dressing up, wearing make-up or arms protests-. A lot of attitude and opinions were expressed through clothes, and they all were meaningful. So, in that way, I was so excited about the connection between our private lives and politics -who I kiss, how I like to dance...-. If you went to a nightclub where you couldn't wear sneakers, you were rejected at the door. But then in the late 80's, with acid house, everybody was just wearing sweaty T-shirts and suddenly there was no dress code. I truly believed that there was something new happening, that there was a new language in music and a nonhierarchical socializing that seemed radically new. This coincided with the fall of the Berlin Wall, and Europe coming closer together, and nightlife and techno and ecstasy culture seemed like a very powerful panEuropean movement" - Wolfgang Tillmans