London’s Punk Legacy With Artist and Activist Caroline Coon and MIISTA

by SHOWstudio on 23 October 2024

In a series of interviews, MIISTA sits down with Caroline Coon to delve into cultural significance of London’s most rebellious era.

In a series of interviews, MIISTA sits down with Caroline Coon to delve into cultural significance of London’s most rebellious era.

There’s no denying the London punk scene of the 1970s was a cultural revolution that transcended music, fashion, and art, leaving a lasting impact on society and shaping the landscape of modern youth subcultures. Set against a backdrop of economic and social turmoil defined by high unemployment and political disillusionment, punk offered a raw unfiltered response to the status quo. Bands like The Sex Pistols and The Clash became the voice of a generation, expressing frustrations through their music and challenging societal norms. 

Difficult not to draw parallels between the mid-70s and today, MIISTA is revisiting the significance of London’s punk era with artist and activist Caroline Coon in a series of interviews with founder Laura Villasenin. As a writer and photographer, Coon documented the punk scene, following the anarchist acts of Sid Vicious and more. As a painter, her work is imbued with the raw energy and rebellious spirit of the time, capturing the essence of a movement that challenged societal norms. Once The Clash’s manager, Coon wasn’t just shaped by punk, she helped define it, dedicating a life to the fight for women’s rights, social justice and sexual liberation. 

Taking place in her West London home, Coon recounts her experience as an original punk while she’s dressed and undressed in MIISTA’s A/W 24 collection inspired by the subculture. The atmosphere is electric as Coon reflects on the vibrant energy of the era, her voice rich with nostalgia and insight, surrounded by mementoes including her paintings and vintage vinyl records. ‘You wore your politics’, Coon explains as she slips into a gauzy knee-length dress, recounting the liberating feeling of standing up to harassment on the street. 

It’s the rejection of patriarchal views on femininity from the punks that informs much of her art. Gender norms are flipped as female artists paint nude males and homosocial scenes of women getting ready. Talking openly about how she’s dedicated her life to activism, Coon emphasises the importance of challenging societal expectations and the power of community in fostering change. 

While the 1970s feel like a different time entirely, what Coon has to say about punk, protest and progress remains strikingly relevant. Her insights resonate deeply in today’s landscape, where movements for social justice, gender equality, and environmental activism are at the forefront of public consciousness. Coon asserts that the punk ethos of questioning authority and challenging societal norms is more crucial than ever. ‘Do you think I fought for 50 years for society to remain the same?’, she explains. 

In Coon’s eyes, the punk movement was just the beginning of a much larger conversation about identity, agency, and the power to redefine what it means to be a woman in today’s world. In this way, she sees a parallel between the past and the present: a call for collective action, solidarity, and a refusal to accept complacency. 

Discover more about Caroline Coon's punk legacy and MIISTA’s A/W 24 collection here

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