When the elevator opens at the Museum of Art and Design ( MAD ) just off Manhattan’s Central Park, a cheerful soundtrack proclaims: “We’re gay, we’re sexual, and we’re pretty…” A platform welcomes visitors with a group of dancers who stage a perfect cool Nightlife diorama. Behind them are two dead bodies climbing a wall, one wearing a sailor hat, a little blue vest with two white stars on it, and a vest made of silver sequins. This is the queer minimalist world of Machine Dazzle.
Hyun, Matthew Flower was born in 156 is a Pennsylvania-based multi-faceted artist whose costume design work is rooted in The practice and aesthetic of “queer minimalism” itself helped define the label. In September , MAD turned on “Cool Minimalism x Machine Dazzle”, Dazzle’s first solo exhibition, spanning an ever-expanding repertoire of costume design, performance, music and stagecraft. Curated by Deputy Director of Curatorial Affairs Elissa Auther and Chief Curator William and Mildred Lasdon, the exhibition brings together 16 artist’s performance creations on a variety of stages, plus mayfly, video and photography, all of which document his work and life as well as Matthew Flower ) into a Machine Dazzle.
Machine Dazzle The name originates from Dazzle When joining the performance group Dazzle Dancers. Founded in New York 71, Dazzle Dancers are known for their sense of humour and propensity for nudity, and they often appear on the festival and queer nightlife scene middle. The “machine” comes from Dazzle’s apparently inexhaustible reserves of energy while dancing with the band and making costumes.
So it makes sense that the first of many mirrored platforms to showcase Dazzle’s work is an ode to his crew. Featuring a disco ball, glitter poured red solitaire cups, spare gogo boy costumes and Club Kid costumes made from a variety of ready-made items (including many from
