#visibleNORWICH
The snow was falling when we hit Norwich to meet it’s visible girls and boys, but the welcome was
very warm indeed! In a city threaded with history and the creative arts, the tribes here were as defined
as they were diverse; but there was a strong sense that being a Norwich resident was a
subculture in and of itself.
Norwich Arts Centre on St Benedict’s street, the City’s independent business hub, was the ideal
home for Stop #3 of the Visible Girls:Revisited show and over 150 visitors came to see
us on it’s opening night. So what insights did the city have for us on the themes of
friendship, style, community and subculture?
In every host location we take to the streets capturing double portraits of the locals and their thoughts on identity.
NORWICH FORUM
TRIBE: ‘FASHIONISTAS’
Kirsty & Gracie
DOGFISH, NORWICH LANES
TRIBE: GRIME SUBCULTURE, STREET
Aaron & Mateusz
‘Our ethos is the same as that of the place we work; the ethos the owners of Dogfish have always cultivated: humanitarianism, veganism, good vibe. Everyone looks out for each other so it’s a healthy environment for all.’ Aaron
‘And we like it drama free! Make sure your community are like-minded. Giving and getting keeps your tribe healthy.’ Mateusz
THE SHOPPING CENTRE
TRIBE ‘FASHIONISTAS’
Daisy & Courtney
‘Don’t be a snake – have each other’s back. Your friends are your sisters.’ Courtney
‘If you fall out, give the other person time and space to think…never send a text, it can be misinterpreted. Always sort things out face to face.’ Daisy
MARIE CURIE CHARITY VINTAGE
TRIBE: LIBERALS
Hope & Jess
THE PLOUGH, ST BENEDICT’S STREET
TRIBE: NEO-LIBERALS
Lucy & Holly
‘Depending on where you are, I think you develop a tribe accordingly. Some tribes are for life and some for a certain period of time. For example, I had a tribe at University, but I want other tribes too! When you travel you find temporary tribes as well, because you are all in the same set of intense circumstances and it unites you.’ Lucy
Friendship is about being present, holding a safe space, and having no judgement.’ Holly
THE PLOUGH, ST BENEDICT’S STREET
TRIBE: NEO-LIBERALS
Matt & Connor
Political differences define our tribe. If we can disagree and stay relational we broaden our horizons. When we challenge each other – but also trust each other – we get clarity on personal beliefs.’ Matt
‘Social media – ugh. I love to unplug but often its how we maintain connections. Even if you don’t talk to someone very regularly, knowing you are friends on Facebook is somehow reassuring. There is a weird comfort in that virtual community, even if you don’t like it.’ Connor
NORWICH FORUM
TRIBE: INDEPENDENT RADIO
Mia & Chloe
MARKS AND SPENCERS, RAMPANT HORSE STREET
TRIBE: MOD
Mo & Christine
Christine: ’I got married at 20 and it was the stupidest thing I ever did. If I had known Mo back then, certainly we would have been friends – she would have led me astray.
Mo: You’d have had more fun…
C: I wasn’t a rebel then and I’m not a rebel now! M: True – she doesn’t swear at anyone – but I do. C: I just stand there and listen…’
NORWICH MARKET
TRIBE: MARKET TRADERS
James & Brendon
‘We are market traders so this is our community. We are a part of Norwich as well – we walk around and talk to the small businesses, we connect with customers. It’s lovely. Norwich is large but small enough to feel a sense of community.’ James
NORWICH FORUM
TRIBE: BIKERS
Amber & Odetta
‘We are like a big family with lots of diverse interests. People are cautious of bikers but we are a down to earth, welcoming tribe – we love each other so much!’ Amber
ST GREGORY’S, POTTERGATE
TRIBE: THE CHURCH
Audrey & Chamomile
‘Church is our community and fun, reliability and compassion are what keep our friendship strong. Chamomile
HOUSE CAFE, ST BENEDICT’S STREET
TRIBE: METAL INDIE
Becky & Jazz
HOUSE CAFE, ST BENEDICT’S STREET
TRIBE: FEMINISTSAS
Chloe & Lizz
NORWICH FORUM
TRIBE: FAMILY/ ‘LEFTWING’ WITH A SMALL ‘L’
Maggie & Cathy
And I was a mod – very anti-Thatcher. I marched for HIV and gay rights. I am also registered blind – which is a sort of tribe. In your forties, I feel that subculture tends to be created by your belief systems and your profession.’ Maggie
‘I’m gay – which is not a subculture but a minority. Work is a subculture in terms of how it dictates how we relate and communicate – your kids also create a subculture for you. As a family, we have created our own subculture as we can be non-conformist.’ Cathy
NORWICH MARKET
TRIBE: ART STUDENTS/K-POP
Courtney & Jade
‘I dress gender-neutral. I don’t care what people choose to do. I stand up for my friends and people’s right to express.’ Courtney
STRANGERS COFFEE, DOVE STREET
TRIBE: COFFEE ARTISANS
Danny & Josh
‘Coffee is our community – a community of independent businesses who are all about food and creativity current affairs. All of my friends drink coffee. We are a team working in harmony. The uniform? Hmm. No tracksuits! That’s the uniform. ’ Danny
‘Our politics? Loose at best!’ Josh
NORWICH MARKET
TRIBE: ART STUDENTS/K-POP
Rochelle & Jade
I’d describe my subculture as K-pop [Korean pop] The style associate with that genre defines my look – boyish undercuts and a dangle earring. It shocks my parents a bit as they wanted a girly-girl.’
Rochelle
THE SHOPPING CENTRE
TRIBE; ‘FASHIONISTAS’
Charlotte & Courtney
‘Clothes define your tribe but we each interpret the trends in our own personal way. But we would never go out wearing the same shoes! And the eyebrow grooming is a must.’
Courtney
NORWICH ART COLLEGE, DUKE STREET
TRIBE: MUSIC STUDENTS
May & Jess
NORWICH ROYAL ARCADE
TRIBE: FAMILY
Deborah & June
‘I was into Glam rock back then – Slade and Bowie. It was mum that wore the mini skirts!’
Deborah
‘I always love wearing colourful clothes’
June
CHAPELFIELD PARK BANDSTAND
TRIBE: ‘COMMUNITY’
Lydia & Kate
‘I think that now we have social tribes – people share and mix more. Underground scenes are safe places that bring us together. Being a chameleon is a trend in itself – you can blend styles and trends. You don’t have to ally with or seek a tribe and that is true liberation.
Now, it’s differences that bring us together’
Kate
Community is our tribe – people don’t have to have a ‘designated space’ for their tendencies these days.’
Lydia
LONDON STREET
TRIBE: MODERN ROCKABILLY
Rachael & Samantha
‘Now I am into the 1950s look – Irregular Choice shoes. But in the ‘90s I was part of the grunge subculture. I was a very angsty teen! Back then, Grunge was your family – united in angst!’
Rachel
INDIGO PIERCING AND TATTOO, LOWER GOAT LANE
TRIBE: TATTOOISTS
Matt & Sam
‘Music is a massive part of our community – funk, hiphop, soul – I have to have music on when I am working! You can do both simultaneously. Music is linked to art I guess.’
Sam
‘What unites us? Honesty. And the responsibility and pressure of the job. Your work is on someone’s skin forever. You can’t mess up – it is someone’s body. Professionalism is the be all and end all.’
Matt
NORWICH FORUM
TRIBE: BIKERS
Joel & Chris
‘We have a massive Facebook group and we use Snapchat and Instagram where we keep a record of biker days out. Snapchat is most used. When Joel had his bike seized, I found out form snapchat!’
Chris
‘Being a biker is a squad mentality. We’ve got each others backs. We are each other’s family on or off the road.’
Joel
POTTERGATE
TRIBE: FASHIONISTAS
Matilda & Jessica
WHAT NORWICH SAID....
‘Inspiring women by an inspiring woman.’
Hattie and Penny
‘Looking forward to bringing this to Bonnie Scotland!’
Andrew J
‘Fantastic – I was at school with Emma, Helen and Em, strange but wonderful to see these pictures!’
Judith
“We were so proud to have been involved with such an iconic exhibition and really pleased to have had the opportunity to bring it to Norwich!” Kelly Robb, NAC Marketing Manager
‘Surprisingly moving – connecting who we were, the clothes, colours and relationships, with whom we have become – seems important work – thanks for making it –at both ends of the timeline.’
Andrew JW
“Absolutely loved it. I will come back again to take in some more! Loved how personal and & intimate the interactions were b/w
the subjects. Also interesting to see how the fashions and hairstyles of the 80s have come back.’
Claudie
“Brilliant! + thought provoking”
Ems
“Best exhibition of the year!”
Pasco Q Kevlin, NAC Director
‘I was most impressed. Such a pity that I have no photos of my girlfriends from long ago. This show brought back a lot of memories. Thank you.’
John
‘Particularly good to see young & older photographs & the changes they suggest.’
Vicky C.
Brilliant photos – then and now. Very much of my era.’
Tracy
‘Fantastic exhibit!! So lovely to see friends, still friends years later.’
“Visible Girls has been the highlight of the year! A thought provoking and powerful time capsule of female tribes!”
Cathryn Fenton, NAC Intern
‘Thank you Anita for bringing Visible Girls to Norwich – a brilliant exhibition – many memories of Norwich brought back.’
‘Fabulous! So many memories for me – a trip back in time.’
“I enjoyed the exhibition myself and loved seeing how touching and engaging it was to members of all ages”Alex Cabre, NAC Marketing and Box Office Assistant
‘Brilliant idea, well executed and amazing to follow up and see the ladies 30 years on – thank you.’
WITH THANKS TO

Pasco, Rosie, Kelly and the team at Norwich Arts Centre for giving us a warm welcome in the snow,
Red Flame Communications for opening night photos,
Ashley Ads for our first banner,
BBC Norfolk for spreading the word,
Future FM for allowing me to DJ,
Made In London Media for the video by Tal Amiran: vimeo.com/262746541
NOTES
There were several wonderful reunions for me at Norwich… Alex, a very old friend who I hadn’t seen for
25 years (here we are, below left, in the Blitz club in 1980 and at Norwich Arts Centre in March 2018),
Penny, my cousin who I hadn’t seen since I was 10. Amanda, a picture editor who I hadn’t seen for 33 years
FOUND IN NORWICH
And another pair of Visible Girls were spotted, Corinne and Jill…
Corinne is a bit of a celeb as she is the lead singer for the band Swing Out Sister
Got your own images of our NORWICH EXHIBITION?
UPLOAD & TAG THEM ON INSTAGRAM: @visible_girls #visiblegirls #visibleNORWICH