A groundbreaking new photography exhibition titled 'Quality of Armour' opens at Waste Space in east London, featuring 12 rising photographers who explore deeply personal interpretations of protection and vulnerability. Curated by Cole Flynn Quirke, an artist and photography lecturer at the London College of Fashion (LCF), the show takes its name from a Guided by Voices song and examines how emerging artists armor themselves in an increasingly uncertain world.
Quirke, an RCA graduate who began his career as the in-house photographer for Nick and Susie Cave, explains his curatorial vision for the exhibition. "My intention for this show was to curate work that represents the armour we use to protect ourselves on a more personal and profound level," he tells AnOther magazine. "Possibly an object, a person, or place that, even for a brief moment, keeps our existential demons at bay."
The concept for 'Quality of Armour' originated in 2019 following Quirke's debut solo exhibition at the Truman Brewery. "It was about memorializing the people in your life who act as a proverbial oak tree, the most consistent and loved," he explains. "In recent years, I have become friends with a lot of artists who I feel share the same ethos and thought it would be exciting to do a small exhibition of works in progress."
The exhibition features diverse artistic interpretations of the armor theme, ranging from provocative to emotionally expressive works. Kaan Alexander Olcay presents a striking portrait of a girl smiling through an eyeless latex mask, while Jack Van Giap explores the spectral comfort found in the night sky through a triptych. Yasuhiko Iida contributes photographs of loved ones and protective places, including the lapping waves of the sea in Japan and the fields of Hyde Park in springtime.
Quirke maintained a specific technical requirement for all participating artists: everything had to be hand-printed. "This was because of the level of intimacy and care it takes when you're in a darkroom," he explains. This commitment to traditional photographic processes adds a tactile, personal dimension to the exhibition that reinforces its themes of vulnerability and protection.
The curator's own contribution to the show consists of a series of enigmatic black and white photographs featuring bodies and landscapes. These include an arm marked with fresh bite marks and a mottled cloud formation captured at daybreak. "My artwork has always been depicting life in one way or another, and a big part of that is exploring ourselves," Quirke reflects.
Drawing from his personal experiences, Quirke explains how his background in skateboarding culture influenced his artistic perspective. "I grew up skating, and as I got older, I became aware of a lot of insecurity and vulnerability in some mates of mine, hidden behind a cool guy exterior," he says. "[I think it was a] sort of armour to protect their mental health. Ultimately, I think showing one's vulnerability is really brave, so I wanted to explore that."
Quirke, who has released two books published by Jane and Jeremy Books exploring themes of solitude and youth's fleeting moments, has also created evocative black and white imagery for Belgian fashion label Ann Demeulemeester. His work is characterized by grainy, poignantly composed frames that capture both people and places with intimate sensitivity.
The exhibition aims to create a welcoming, contemplative environment for visitors. "I'd like it to be a laid-back experience – it's a cool little space, so it doesn't demand silence or awkwardness like a big clinical gallery," Quirke says. "I'd like people to feel some sort of comfort after visiting, and hopefully leave feeling a little warmer and inspired."
'Quality of Armour' runs from August 9-13, 2025, at Waste Space in London. The complete roster of exhibited artists includes Georgia Sydney Jones, Evan Purdy, Jack Van Giap, Kaan Olcay, Cole Flynn Quirke, Molly Emma, Harvey Flynn Quirke, Natalia Theodoulidis, Yasuhiko Iida, Siam Coy, Lucas Edwards, and Chiara Gabellini. The intimate nature of the curation, with Quirke knowing each artist personally, lends the exhibition a particularly personal and cohesive vision of how contemporary photographers navigate themes of protection and emotional resilience.
