At the age of 17, Simon Burstall began documenting the burgeoning underground rave scene of 1990s Sydney. Armed with borrowed school cameras and sneaking away from home in the early hours of the morning in the family car, Burstall found a community and a career that would change him forever. His book, '93: Punching the Light, was published by Damiani in 2019.
Early Days and Inspiration
Burstall's journey into photography started with a desire to capture the vibrant, ephemeral world of raves. He recalls, 'One of my best mates, Brendan Cowell, can be seen in the centre of frame smiling with his arms in the air at the Field of Dreams II Rave, Graffiti Hall of Fame. He wrote the forward for my book.' This image, like many others, reflects the raw energy and connection of the scene.
Technique and Ethics
Burstall was mindful of his subjects' privacy. 'Available light – I would only take pictures in the morning intentionally without a flash so I didn't feel like I was invading people's privacy,' he explains. One of his early medium format shots, taken on May 8, 1993, at a rave called Enigma in Alexandria, Sydney, came from one of the first rolls of film he shot with that camera.
Diaries and Collages
Burstall also kept diaries filled with collages of photos and mementos. 'This is a collage of photos of friends I made in my diary from that period of time,' he says, showing the personal nature of his documentation. Another diary page includes an entry from February 2, 1993, alongside imagery from his father's 50th birthday, where an entertainer was hired. A portrait of Burstall taken by his art teacher, who became a mentor, also appears.
Iconic Locations
Many raves took place in industrial spaces. The cover of '93: Punching the Light was shot at Field of Dreams II at the Graffiti Hall of Fame in Sydney, a location that also served as a meat export warehouse. 'I took this photo standing on a giant chest freezer, I remember so clearly feeling the vibration of the speakers behind me while I was shooting the crowd,' Burstall recalls. 'I had no idea what I was doing with a camera at this point. Then I hand processed in my school darkroom these epic photos.'
Community and Freedom
The raves fostered a sense of unity. 'A girl freely dancing. I loved seeing people letting go and enjoying themselves. At these parties we all felt connected, like we were all one. There was no alcohol and no one acted like a fool, it was all love and freedom and connection,' Burstall describes. Another image captures 'the essence of the time, the fashion, the purity of just dancing with no distractions and total freedom of expression. The fanny packs, the Adidas and Timberlands, the jeans are all so relevant now.'
Behind the Scenes
Burstall's photos also reveal intimate moments. One shows his mother's car, with his brother Justin and a friend changing out of sweaty socks into fresh ones after hours of dancing, with cigarettes and flyers littering the ground. Another captures two strangers changing their socks on a Sunday morning, February 14, 1993, in Alexandria, in buildings that no longer exist.
Action and Energy
One striking image features his friend JD, who 'said Hey Si! and he ran full-speed and jumped over the chair and I caught him mid air. He was Australia's under 16's karate champion at the time.' This was taken at 904 Bourke St, Sydney, at a rave called Punos.
Industrial Aesthetic
Burstall loved the industrial nature of the parties. 'We inhabited areas that no one came to at night. They were filthy but it was pure heaven,' he recalls. A photo shows a group gathering at a loading dock outside a warehouse to smoke and chat.
Aftermath
After raves, the group often went to the beach. 'Two girls in Cronulla – my hometown beach. We would often go to the beach after the raves to come down. Sometimes we would go surfing, or just hang out in another car park and listen to music. This photo sums up what some Sundays can feel like. Lost in thought and totally shattered,' Burstall says.
Burstall's work offers a unique window into a fleeting moment in Sydney's cultural history, capturing the spirit of a generation through the lens of a teenager with a borrowed camera.
