Ed Templeton explores the evolution of the Mohawk
In his new book, Hairdos of Defiance, cult photographer Ed Templeton pays tribute to the Mohawk. The publication, which is packed full of images and an accompanying essay, examines the history of the iconic punk hairstyle – from its indigenous origins to its emergence as a punk symbol, to its eventual co-option by the mainstream.
Templeton took the 42 featured photos on film over a two-decade period, during travels across both the U.S and Europe. His essay, directly titled On Mohawks, is a poetic ode to the hairstyle’s enduring appeal.
“An explosion of spiked fluorescent pink hair precariously balanced atop a young girl’s head, eyes painted black in the shape of an Egyptian goddess, slender neck choked by a black leather dog collar ringed with metal thorns, a ripped-up t-shirt barely concealing the flesh of her breasts,” Templeton writes. “It had the same shocking effect on a family walking along London’s King’s Road in 1977 as it did on the explorers encountering the Pawnee Indians in 1541, something exotic and strange to behold.”
“Having a punk hairstyle was a way to spit in the eye of polite society, to rebel and depart from the prevailing fashion trends. It was an emblem of non-conformity and a hairdo of defiance – until it wasn’t.”
Hairdos of Defiance is accompanied by an eponymous solo exhibition at Roberts Projects, Los Angeles, running until mid-April.
Hairdos of Defiance is released through Deadbeat Club this weekend. An accompanying exhibition will run at LA’s Roberts Projects from March 17 – April 21, 2018.
Enjoyed this article? Like Huck on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.
You might like
Halloween in Brooklyn, photographed over 50 years
Spirits and soul — Larry Racioppo’s new book documents half a century of the October festivities in New York, while tracing the city’s ever-changing character.
Cruising on the West Side Piers, New York’s wild side
West Side Highway — In the late 20th century, the area was an if-you-know-you-know hotspot for the city’s gay scene. William Howell’s new photobook immortalises it.
Ahilya Bamroo is Gen Z India’s authentic ambassador
Reel relatable — The influencer turned actor speaks about trolls, beauty standards and youth activism.
What went down at Huck’s 20th birthday party
84 issues and counting — We took over east London’s Jaguar Shoes with friends old and new to celebrate two decades and our new issue, with Tony Bontana taking the decks for a special set.
Photos of friends, lovers and afters in Berlin’s party scene
Dreams and How to Keep Them – Vincent Wechselberger’s new monograph documents a decade of hedonism in the German capital, and the people he met along the way.
Inside the Los Angeles scene kid revival
The Rawring ’20s — For the cover of Huck 84, photographer Alexis Gross and writer Anna Zanes meet the latest faces of scene, who are finding freedom to express themselves through its technicolour, unafraid aesthetic.
