Maciej Dakowicz
Maciej Dakowicz is the author of the photo book Cardiff After Dark in which he photographed the nightlife in central Cardiff.
He says, "St Mary street is one of the main streets of central Cardiff – the capital city of Wales and a city like any other in the UK. The street is one of the main hubs of clubs and pubs of the city. Sooner or later most party goers end up on that street. The street is closed for cars on Saturday nights and together with adjoining alleys and lanes becomes the main scene of fuelled by alcohol and emotions city’s nightlife. Everything takes place in public – from drinking, fighting, kissing to crying and sleeping. Supermen chat up Playboy Bunnies, somebody lies on the pavement taking a nap, the hungry ones finish their portions of chips and the policemen stop another argument or fight. Nobody seems to worry about tomorrow, what matters is here and now. Then another week at work or university, until the next weekend."
I thought the scene he sets here is very reminiscent of the 70s and 80s in Hulme. The party atmosphere he captures in Cardiff reminds me of the alcohol and drug fuelled parties of the crescents. Most of his photos are quite humourous but I also find them grotesque and disturbing at times. The characters he captures don't realise that they are making a fool out of themselves because they are too drunk and there is something about watching someone behave unintentionally stupidly that is a little unsettling. His use of bright colours also creates a garish atmosphere and mimic the bright, busy lights his drunk subjects are probably experiencing.
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