PUNK GIRLS
by Liz Ham, with contributions by Emma Price and Ollie Henderson

212 pages | hardback
$75 AUD | $85 NZD | £38 GBP
November 2017

Punk Girls is a representation of the punk movement in its many guises with an important focus on the female-identifying participants of this world. Fashion, music and politics collide in this landmark publication by one of Australia’s most acclaimed female photographers. The images are inspired by and reference the iconic women of punk history, as embodied and re-enacted by those who channel the punk movement in contemporary daily life.

At the book’s core are more than 100 portraits photographed throughout Australia over the course of five years on large format film on a custom-made 5×4” rangefinder Polaroid conversion camera. Many of these women were introduced to the author by social media or by answering a flyer calling for photographic subjects. Additional imagery appears in the form of stylised fashion photographs featuring models Ollie Henderson, Georgia Fowler, Annabella Barber and Christina Carey, each playing to iconic female punk figures throughout history. Female punk bands, both on stage and off, and the surrounding artistic milieu are featured in the traditional practice of live music documentation.

“I want to demystify perceptions of women in punk and give a voice and recognition to an incredibly diverse and intersectional scene that has, over the last forty years since the birth of punk, evolved to become a very exciting place for women to feel active, supported and confident in pursuing their freedom to look and feel themselves,” Ham explains. The book features an introductory essay by artist Emma Price, of millennial performance collective The Kingpins, and an interview with the artist conducted by activist, model, radio producer and House of Riot founder Ollie Henderson.

Liz Ham is a photographer with a body of work spanning more than two decades. Her photographs have appeared in Vogue, Elle, Russh, Oyster, Dazed & Confused and i-D. In addition to working professionally in fashion editorial and advertising, Ham’s photographs continue to be exhibited, with previous solo and group exhibitions including those at Stills Gallery, Sydney; Project Contemporary Artspace, Wollongong; the Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney; Monster Children Gallery, Sydney. Her work has been collected by the Australian National Library Archives, the State Library of New South Wales and The State Library of Victoria. She has been the recipient of the Yen Young Woman of the Year Award for Photography, the National Youth Media Award, and the CCP/Leica Documentary Photography Award. She lives in Sydney, Australia with her husband and two children.

THURSDAY 16 NOVEMBER 2017 - BETTER READ THAN DEAD, NEWTOWN
Celebrate the launch of the Punk Girls book at one of Sydney’s leading independent bookstores and be the first to have the author, Liz Ham, sign your copy.
6.30pm | drinks served | free of charge

THURSDAY 23 NOVEMBER 2017 - SUN STUDIOS, ALEXANDRIA
In partnership with Young Henrys and Sun Studios, Manuscript Publishing will host an evening celebrating women in punk. With performances by Bam Bam, Betty Grumble, Mahla Bird, Venus Vamp and DJ Scarlett Scar, and a special range of merchandise accompanying the book, there’s never been a better time to unleash your inner punk.
6.30pm | drinks served | free of charge
RSVP: [email protected]

THURSDAY 30 NOVEMBER 2017 - BRUNSWICK BOUND, BRUNSWICK
Melbourne, it’s your turn to celebrate with Liz Ham, as the Punk Girls author returns to the southern state to celebrate alongside the inspiring women that feature in the book. Get your copy signed in person at leading bookstore Brunswick Bound.
6.30pm | drinks served | free of charge
RSVP: [email protected]

SATURDAY 2 DECEMBER 2017 - STATE LIBRARY OF NSW, SYDNEY
Join us at the State Library of New South Wales’ Metcalf Auditorium for a fascinating panel discussion between Liz Ham, Emma Price (The Kingpins), Ollie Henderson (the House of Riot) and Sydney councillor Jess Scully.
2-3pm | $10.00