Photo by Kristin-Lee Moolman
From Tyler the Creator to Kanye West and the countless unknown men in between, black males are some of the most influential style and pop culture trendsetters. Unfortunately that fact doesn’t dispel the stereotypes surrounding black men in society, and often those same prejudices make them so vulnerable in the hands of authorities.
Dandyism is the radical personal politics that sees black men play with their identities and masculinity with willed and fabulous flamboyance. A new exhibition at London’s The Photographers’ Gallery explores this phenomenon from New York to Bamako focusing on the exquisite style and confidence of these dandies. While highlighting that dandyism isn’t simply about sharp dressing but rather, consciously problematising ideas of male identity through dress and poise that is arresting and camp, the show offers images that are overlooked by the mainstream media.
Curator Ekow Eshun chose to focus on this aspect of black dandyism as black men are “simultaneously hypervisible and invisible to white society,” thus portraying them in flashy suits, bows, jumpsuits, and even platform boots. The group show features work from artists including Isaac Julien, Kristin-Lee Moolman and the Larry Dunstan Archive.
Left: by Hassan Hajjaj, right: by Jeffrey Henson-Scales
Photo by Malick Sidibé
“Made You Look” is on display at The Photographers’ Gallery in London from 15 July until 25 September 2016