time fly’s UOSSAIM
The paradox of the perceived world of endless choice is that we only have two. We either follow or we don’t. As large swathes of humanity bow before the altar of the iphone and ipad, the disposable becomes the new sacred. The throwaway comment of a celebrity becomes the gospel and trends become the commandments by which we live our lives. Eternally switched on, it becomes increasingly difficult to opt out. We become disciples of our own and others blinkered reality, where importance is bestowed upon those who shout the loudest, under the false pretences of freedom. Now, as hyper time gathers pace, we edge increasingly closer to point zero – the point at which we catch up with ourselves. This uncertain point can seem daunting - we’ve used up all our ammunition and now we’re running blind into a world unknown. Yet at the same time, it’s fucking exciting. Some will seek solace, face down in their alter reality of the Internet, caught in an eternal loop of appropriation and re-appropriation, while true reality passes like the clouds above them. Others will strive ahead, recognizing a need for change with their arms outstretched and eyes wide open into the great expanse of real life – creating the new and documenting their journey without the reassurance and hindrance of a past which was never truly theirs, laying the oundations of the new pillars, future benchmarks will one day stand atop. It as this point, as we teeter on the edge, in the lull before the storm, that we must weigh up our options and decide which route we’re going to take. Do we keep calm and carry on, as the powers that be advise, or do we step off. Step off and forge our own path. Yet don’t be tricked by the perceived simplicity of just stepping off. Many have been tricked and trick themselves into believing that they have stepped off in a present that sells the act as a commodity. This route transcends far beyond investing in a t-shirt, dip dying hair and embracing rebellious symbolism. The route is long, the journey may never be completed, and that’s what makes it’s the most beautiful journey one can undertake – as only you can take it. What exists between the two covers of this book can never be repeated. The images presented offer an alternative, a counter narrative to the unpredictable, uncontrollable unfolding of life at a point where choices have to be made. A culmination of three years work, this book is a document of self discovery and personal development, sliding up, down, over and through the spiral of history, these images bridge the void between what came before and what happens next. Acting as a catalyst for infinite possibilities, this book contains the introductions of many stories, only the authors themselves can write and which we wait with bated breath to be written. After flicking through this book, hopefully, you the reader will think differently about how you see the world. If not, I challenge you to shut the book, stop, look around and think of the immortal words of Ferris Beuller; “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.”
Dan Szor Art Director / Artist
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UOSSAIM http://uossaim.tumblr.com twitter: @uossaim Christine Ratcliff - Pathway Leader Fashion Styling & Image Making c.ratcliff@salford.ac.uk 0161 295 6093 www.artdes.salford.ac.uk
image credits //1 Ruth Armitt //2 Charlotte Bateman //3 Anjelica Bent //4 Laura Dickinson //5 Antonia Duffin //6 Louise Dwyer //7 Bridi Foden //8 Samuel Gallagher //9 Laura Gonzalez-Murphy //10 Fiona Halliday //11 Rachel Hannaway //12 Sophie Heald //13 Jennifer Higgins //14 Christine Higgins-Wood //15 Samantha Hunter //16 Kathleen Jelley //17 Alexandra Keeling //18 Lucy Knapp //19 Michael Mayren //20 Lauren McCafferty //21 Michael McGahan //22 Lauren Morris //23 Faye Oliver //24 Lisa Price //25 Nicola Roberts //26 Laura Simms //27 Rachel Stewart //28 Makeda Tafari //29 Emma Taylor //30 Lauren Walker //31 Taryn Wilsea //32 Marissa Wisdell //33 Ellen Woolf Cover image by Michael Mayren Printed in the UK by Entwistle Group Copyright UOSSAIM / UOS 2012 Limited edition of 750
rutharmitt@gmail.com charlottebateman1@hotmail.co.uk anjelica.bent@yahoo.com laura_dickinson89@hotmail.co.uk antoniaduffin@hotmail.co.uk louise.dwyer202@gmail.com bridi.foden@gmail.com samuelgallagher1@hotmail.co.uk lauragonzalezmurphy@hotmail.co.uk palfhalliday@aol.com rachelhannaway@hotmail.co.uk sophie.heald@yahoo.co.uk jennifer-higgins@hotmail.co.uk christine-h-w@hotmail.co.uk sammylou3@hotmail.co.uk jelleydude@hotmail.com lex_keeling@hotmail.co.uk lbknapp@hotmail.co.uk michaelmayren@hotmail.co.uk lollyherts@hotmail.com michaeljrmcgahan@hotmail.co.uk iamlaurenmorris@hotmail.co.uk fayeoliver87@hotmail.com lisaprice2021@hotmail.com nicolaroberts00@yahoo.com me_laura@hotmail.co.uk rachel.lou.stewart@gmail.com mztafari@yahoo.com emmataylorfashion4@google.mail.com lauren.walker90@hotmail.co.uk tarynwilsea@hotmail.co.uk m_wisdell90@live.co.uk ellenwoolf@live.co.uk