With more than 20 years documenting London’s subcultures and musical tribes, Simon Wheatleyis regarded as one of the most influential British photographers of the 21st century.

In an Australian debut, both Sydney and Melbourne will host Time of Grime, an exhibition of images sourced from the pages of Don’t Call Me Urban!, Wheatley’s definitive exploration of London streetlife throughout the 2000s. First released in 2010, the cult title remained sold out for more than a decade before an updated edition was released in 2025.

The emotionally intimate portraits capture the raw exuberance of teenage energy and boredom in full force. Decaying council estates, pirate radio stations, late night bus missions and hard-fought MC battles are menacing backdrops to the riveting narratives captured by Wheatley’s lens as he infiltrated the local music scene, which provided hope for London’s marginalised youth.

Wheatley also captured the first wave of grime artists as youngsters, including Skepta, Dizzee Rascal, Wiley, Tinchy Stryder, Roll Deep and Crazy Titch, among others. As grime became a sociological phenomenon derided as criminal and delinquent by conservative politicians, some of the most prominent of Wheatley’s subjects found fame, while others endured misfortune