Book overview
Dennis Morris: Music + Life is the first in-depth career retrospective of the trailblazing photographer, designer, and art director. Although Dennis Morris is celebrated for his iconic portraits of reggae superstar Bob Marley, this monograph also shines a light on Morris's documentary work, which explores questions of race and cultural identity as it draws on his experiences as a Black teenager in 1970s Britain. Supported by an international touring exhibition, Dennis Morris unveils a trove of previously unseen images, offering new insight into the image-maker's visual language.
Jamaican-born Morris moved to East London when he was just five years old. His passion for photography was ignited when he joined a local church's camera club. A rebellious thirteen-year-old, Morris skipped school to meet--and photograph--Marley, an encounter that would catapult him into a whirlwind tour with Marley and, subsequently, the Sex Pistols as their official photographer. His adventures in the reggae and punk scenes of the 1970s laid the groundwork for a multidecade career spanning photography, art direction, design, and music.
The book unfolds in two symbiotic parts: the first captures Morris's unapologetic lens on race, culture, and identity in 1970s Britain, while the second surveys his collaborations with music legends, including--in addition to Marley--Lee "Scratch" Perry, Gregory Isaacs, and Marianne Faithfull. Featuring an original contribution from Sean O'Hagan and an essay by the late cultural theorist Stuart Hall, this publication promises to delight both photography aficionados and music lovers alike.
