Ed Templeton explores the evolution of the Mohawk

Ed Templeton explores the evolution of the Mohawk
Hairdo of defiance — The cult photographer pays tribute to one of the most iconic punk signifiers of all time, sharing two-decades worth of images & a poetic personal essay.

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.

Bald-Hawk_1520x Geoff-Mohawk_1520x Word-Bubble-Hawk_1520x Orange-Mohawk-Finland_1520x Liberty-Silhouette-NEW_1520x fp_8634_1200x

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.

Latest on Huck

A behind the scenes look at the atomic wedgie community
Culture

A behind the scenes look at the atomic wedgie community

Stretched out — Benjamin Fredrickson’s new project and photobook ‘Wedgies’ queers a time-old bullying act by exploring its erotic, extreme potential.

Written by: Isaac Muk

“Welcome to the Useless Class”: Ewan Morrison in conversation with Irvine Welsh
Culture

“Welcome to the Useless Class”: Ewan Morrison in conversation with Irvine Welsh

For Emma — Ahead of the Scottish author’s new novel, he sat down with Irvine Welsh for an in-depth discussion of its dystopic themes, and the upcoming AI “tsunami”.

Written by: Irvine Welsh

“Struggle helps people come together”: Sharon Van Etten & The Attachment Theory
Music

“Struggle helps people come together”: Sharon Van Etten & The Attachment Theory

Huck’s February interview — To hear more about the release of the indie darling’s first collaborative album, we caught up with her and Devra Hoff to hear about the record, motherhood in music and why the ’80s are back,

Written by: Isaac Muk

Nxdia: “Poems became an escape for me”
Music

Nxdia: “Poems became an escape for me”

What Made Me — In this series, we ask artists and rebels about the forces and experiences that shaped who they are. Today, it’s Egyptian-British alt-pop shapeshifter Nxdia.

Written by: Nxdia

Kathy Shorr’s splashy portraits inside limousines
Culture

Kathy Shorr’s splashy portraits inside limousines

The Ride of a Lifetime — Wanting to marry a love of cars and photography, Kathy Shorr worked as a limousine driver in the ’80s to use as a studio on wheels. Her new photobook explores her archive.

Written by: Miss Rosen

Lewd tales of live sex shows in ’80s Times Square
Culture

Lewd tales of live sex shows in ’80s Times Square

Peep Man — Before its LED-beaming modern refresh, the Manhattan plaza was a hotbed for seedy transgression. A new memoir revisits its red light district heyday.

Written by: Miss Rosen

Sign up to our newsletter

Issue 81: The more than a game issue

Buy it now