These photographs were taken in reference of the late 1960’s hippie subculture. However, this shoot involved subtly exposing the dark side of the cultural movement, involving excessive drug use and free sex in the pursuit of liberation, mind-expansion and freedom of spirit. Consequences including addiction, increased rates of rape and sexual assault under the guise of ‘free love’ and lack of education soon arose. These factors and the wider subculture effectively culminated in the brutal Tate-Labianca murders at the hands of Charles Manson and the Manson family cult.

The references here are the ‘injection’ of music into the arm - referencing indoctrination, intoxication and opioid drug use - as well as the smoking of ‘flowers’ and the stripping of sunflowers - a reference to the loss of innocence and violent sexual attacks prevalent in the period.