Murphy’s project “Utopia” documents the underground world of queer nightlife. Shot mainly on film, the series captures the scenes in Bristol and London from 2022 to the present. The title reflects what these spaces offer those who frequent them and find community there: freedom of expression, individuality and a sense of belonging. Amid the country’s current political turmoil and a world that feels increasingly divided, these spaces offer a glimpse of an alternative way of living.
Across Bristol and London, queer nightlife alternates in different forms. DIY outfits, from clown costumes to striped jumpers stitched with phrases like “Jesus Was a Dyke”; dancefloors filled with sweating bodymovers, to quieter moments shared with friends. The photographs capture the people who inhabit these spaces. They show the fleeting encounters, the sense of ecstasy and the moments often undocumented.
Portraits of partygoers in glossy eyeshadow and DIY outfits sit alongside dancers in PVC and fishnets, caught up in the movement of the night. Techno bounces off concrete, friendships form in toilet queues and arm-wrestling matches unfold in smoking areas. The photographs capture the characters, connections and fleeting moments that make these nights what they are.
