Karma Sixties

ite photos -part of the collection of two French photo lovers, Francoise Lazard and Patrick Jucaud.-

“Having the opportunity to immerse yourself in the original spirit of the Sixties and discover the images of The Rolling Stones before they even recorded their first album, as well as incredible black and white shots of London when it was the first swinging capital of the world, is a unique opportunity for today’s young generation of fashion followers as well as photos collectors”, says Lazard. Two photographers have been chosen for the “Karma Sixties” exhibition: Philip Townsend and Frank Habicht. Townsend was a well-known British society photographer who worked with many leading magazines and newspapers both in the UK and abroad. His friendship with Andrew Loog-Oldham, the legendary producer and the first manager of The Rolling Stones, gave birth to amazing photographs of The Rolling Stones, a collection depicting the very first days in the lives of the group (April 1963), before it’s first recording contract. When it comes to those first moments of the photo shoot, Philip Townsend recalls: “Andrew said ‘Make them look mean’ and men I tried to make them. Of course, they have never been photographed before so they didn’t know how to pose.”

Discovering those pictures, it is impossible not to see the history behind these shots, the greatness of this band that would change the face of popular music forever. Habicht, a Hamburg born photographer, went to London in the Sixties and took up photography as a freelancer. In London, Frank took some of his most famous photos, which so captured the uninhibited spirit of the times. This was a roller-coaster time when new trends were springing up in fashion, in music and in thoughts. The Rolling Stones were young and political demonstrations attracted vast numbers of people. In Habicht’s words: “In London, the conventional art circles were rocked, the old order disregarded. Fresh standards were set and expressed as: let very human being do his thing!”

Habicht’s shots mix ordinary people, strange encounters, young students, and mini skirts lovers. Richard Prince, today’s one of the most important contemporary artist, praises Habicht’s photos for being “a unique beatnik-kit”.