KERSTGENS, Michael - Coal not dole. The Miners´ Strike 1984/1985

Background information

"The miners 'strike of 1984-85 has remained the last major industrial battle in the UK to date, marking the end of an industrial era and the beginning of a new culture, financial culture - not just in the UK." Michael KERSTGENS's book shows how this process works The biographies of many people have intervened and the face of the country has changed forever, as can be seen in the pictures taken by the photographer almost 30 years after the strike in Yorkshire. " (Publisher's text, © Hannes Wanderer, 2014)
In 1984, at the height of the strike, the then photography student decided to photographically document this struggle. But the strike was brutal, so that the mistrust of the 'Germans' was great. Although Michael KERSTGENS was born in Wales in 1960 and had good contacts with the local mining industry, he was only able to photograph in Wales on the periphery, but not striking workers and their activities. That changed when he met activists Marsha and Stuart 'Spud' Marshall in Yorkshire, the center of the action. 'Spud' trusted the young photographer and invited him to live in his family. Michael KERSTGENS seized the opportunity to photograph the consequences beyond the demonstrations, the violent conflicts and the public discussions on the political stage ....

Content

He photographed soup kitchens, closed-door gatherings, and women who were previously not politically active but now assisted their husbands and organized the protest; He photographed families and their children at home or at occasional celebrations, stealing low-quality coal to heat homes, organizing spontaneous demos, engaging with police, photographing the courage and pride of workers beyond their political demagogy Belonging to the working class lived. And he photographed her exhaustion and despair in the defeat at the end of the long road. (slightly modified original text © Hannes Wanderer)

About the photographer, Michael KERSTGENS (b. 1960)

Photo books by Michael KERSTGENS