Drag: Self Portraits and Body Politics ☆☆
Hayward Gallery, Southbank Centre, London
They were queuing round the block on Wednesday for the private view of “Drag: Self Portraits and Body Politics” at the newly reopened Hayward Gallery. It features the work of more than 30 artists who have used drag to explore or question identity, gender, class and politics, from the 1960’s to the present day.
The beautifully re-furbished gallery is small, with an end wall of polished concrete serving as a backdrop for a several TV screens with a selection of clips from diverse artists such as Ming Wong who re-interprets Roman Polanski’s seminal film Chinatown. He plays both the male detective and femme fatale characters in order to highlight the problematic representation of both race and gender in this film. It is seems both familiar and yet a highly mysterious prospect with the original soundtrack played backwards adding to the disorientation.
Less effective is the offer from Ann Hirsch whose exploration of gender identity through her alter ego ‘Jason’ misses the mark and gives no glimpse of insight into white working class straight masculinity she attempts to examine.
There are (queer) household names here as well of course. Two self portraits by Robert Mapplethorpe are a particular highlight, not least for this heart stopping semi-drag beauty gazing back at us down the decades – what a loss to humanity! Celebrated drag & fashion artist Leigh Bowery is here on video (taken from his live stint at the D’offay Gallery back in 1988). Cindy Sherman uses her trademark technique of using clothes and makeup to examine the process of ageing and the clichés around it.
In general, the show is more intriguing than entertaining, educational rather than shocking, stimulating of intellect not genitalia. Drag can be many things to many people but it can be argued humour is a vital ingredient and there is precious little on display here.
There is also surprisingly little sexual imagery in the curation – Jimmy DeSana (photographer to the stars such as Debbie Harry and Talking Heads) teases with a picture of him lying down with something protruding suggestively from his sheer red tights. In addition the only 3D exhibit (by Renate Bertlmann) is placed quite rightly in the centre of the space on a pedestal. It’s a doll dressed in a red and black velvet dress with heavy frills and gold detailing. There is a large, black, bejewelled phallus where the head should be. It’s gorgeous, surprising and certainly grabs your attention – the rest of the show struggles to hold onto it.
DRAG: Self-portraits and Body Politics HAYWARD GALLERY LONDON 22 AUG 2018 – 14 OCT 2018
REVIEW: JONNY WARD
Jonny Ward, Queerguru London Correspondent is a drama graduate but has worked backstage for many years at venues such as The Royal Albert Hall, The 02, Southbank Centre and is currently at The National Theatre. He lives in Hoxton, London and is delighted to check out the latest, the hottest and the downright dodgy in queer culture for Queerguru. (P.S. He is currently single)
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