Goldie, Metalheadz, Blue Note, London, 1996 © Normski

Normski
Man with the Golden Shutter
Photography
Photoschweiz, Zurich, Switzerland
06 - 11 February 2026

Photo Schweiz 2026

Venue: Kongresshaus Zürich, Claridenstrasse 5, 8002 Zürich

Opening: Thursday, 5 February 2026, 18:00 – 22:30 (RSVP)

Exhibition Dates: 6 – 11 February 2026, 11:00 – 20:00

Special Exhibition Highlights: Normski

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Represented by Mondejar Gallery

Download Press Release here

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About the Exhibition

Mondejar Gallery announces its collaboration with photoSCHWEIZ on Man with the Golden Shutter, a major retrospective dedicated to the work of Norman Anderson, known as Normski, one of the most influential visual chroniclers of late twentieth-century music culture.

Presented on the occasion of the artist’s 60th birthday, the exhibition traces Normski’s unique role in documenting the formative years of hip-hop and the emergence of techno in London and Detroit. His photographs are shaped not by detached observation but by lived participation. Normski was embedded within the scenes he recorded, capturing moments as they unfolded rather than reconstructing them from the margins.

Emerging from London’s underground culture in the 1980s and 1990s, Normski photographed artists at the very beginning of their careers, long before international recognition followed. The exhibition includes early images of figures who would later become global icons, including LL Cool J, Run-D.M.C., Public Enemy, N.W.A, Ice Cube, Queen Latifah, De La Soul, Salt ’n’ Pepa, Cypress Hill, and Goldie. Seen together, these works form a rare visual record of a cultural movement that would go on to reshape music, fashion, language, and youth identity worldwide.

Beyond individual portraits, Man with the Golden Shutter situates these figures within a broader cultural landscape. Normski’s work documents the interconnected pillars of hip-hop culture, including DJing, graffiti, and breakdance, revealing a complex creative ecosystem rooted in community, expression, and social experience.

Normski has often spoken of the trust that underpinned his access. Many of his photographs feature young Black men because he understood their world and recognised his own journey within it. This shared cultural ground gives his work an authenticity that continues to resonate decades later.

Alongside the exhibition, Normski will participate in a series of public programmes during photoSCHWEIZ, including a masterclass, portfolio reviews, and a lecture at the photoFORUM, offering insight into his practice and the continued relevance of documentary photography today.

Man with the Golden Shutter will be presented as part of photoSCHWEIZ 26 at the Kongresshaus Zurich, open to public from 6 to 10 February 2026.

Press enquiries and interview requests:
Mondejar Gallery
info@mondejargallery.com