Royale HUSSAR Exhibition 

Out of the Dark - The Lost Images

Basil Arthur Scott Clavering (1910 - 1973) is recognised as the most prominent British post-war photographer, who specialised in the development and production of a genre of photography centred on bodybuilders, the male uniform, and military discipline. Clavering established Studio Royale followed by Hussar in Pimlico and Soho, London, which were used to promote his work commercially, albeit it with a low public profile. Royale specialised in bodybuilders and physique imagery, and Hussar in military themes, with both studios producing photo-sets, which were advertised in specialist periodicals. (The exhibition catalogue is provided in a similar style). Hussar developed the images into Sensational Playlets, which were then sold through magazines by mail order. 

John Charles Parkhurst (1927 - 2000) worked alongside Clavering in the production of the photographs from the early 1950s to the mid 1960s, continuing his photographic activities on a more informal basis through to the early 1990s. It was not only their technical prowess behind the camera and their mastery of lighting effects which make their images so significant, but also the social and political context surrounding the production and circulation of the images. Up to that point in time, no other commercial photographer had attempted to focus exclusively on this genre or produce images in such consistent volume.

The images were carefully stored before being entrusted to Michael Carnes and Robert Lavis in Tasmania. A careful and meticulous restoration process began and has culminated in this exhibition.

This exhibition introduces a revolutionary force in 20th century male photography - the art of Basil Clavering and John Parkhurst, Royale and Hussar Studios. A unique collection of images thought lost, but now legitimately out of the dark.

A poster and pamphlet for this photography exhibition are attached below.