Made You Look: Dandyism and Black Masculinity
15 July – 25 September 2016
Black dandyism is explored through street and studio photography.
The term dandy – referring to a man who pays particular attention to his style and appearance – was first coined in the Victorian era, and has been used to describe the tweed suits, frilled blouses and crafted moustaches of Lord Byron, Oscar Wilde and Salvador Dalí.
This exhibition explores its specific iteration among the African diaspora, for whom dandyism is problematic – the willed flamboyance is in total contrast to conventional constructions of black masculinity. Here it is seen as a form of personal politics; more than sharp dressing it defies the notion that there is one monolithic definition of black manhood.