
Jonathan West, Untitled 7 2007 from the series Suburban Stormtroopers (detail), courtesy the artist.

Jonathan West, Untitled 7 2007 from the series Suburban Stormtroopers (detail), courtesy the artist.

Jonathan West, Untitled 7 2007 from the series Suburban Stormtroopers (detail), courtesy the artist.

Jonathan West, Untitled 7 2007 from the series Suburban Stormtroopers (detail), courtesy the artist.

Jonathan West, Untitled 7 2007 from the series Suburban Stormtroopers (detail), courtesy the artist.
When I observe strangers on the street I try to imagine what they get up to outside their daily routine of work, home or family life. I think it's a fundamental human need to have some escape from the ordered chaos, if only for a few minutes, hours or days. From skydiving to wife swapping, I think we can all identify things in our lives that fill the void we sometimes experience. This series is a celebration of a group of people who have a unique way of finding escape; through collecting and wearing Star Wars Stormtrooper costumes. From their common obsession, they have formed a worldwide organisation to entertain seriously ill children: the 501st Terror Australis Garrison. Without profit, they do this simply for the chance to share with someone else the thing that makes them happy. These photographs show them in their everyday environments, illustrating that however weird what they do might seem, they are just like you and me. Different strokes for different folks as they say. To the Dark side!
Supported by

Jonathan West, Untitled 7 2007 from the series Suburban Stormtroopers (detail), courtesy the artist.
Centre for Contemporary Photography
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