(Image courtesy of Magnus Hastings Why Drag?)
Questioning gender continues to move into the mainstream, as boundaries blur and gender extremes illustrate how our identities can be full of contradictions. Experimental art and performance encourage new ways of thinking around diversity, while social media influencers challenge our perceptions of beauty.
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In his latest series for Channel 4, Grayson Perry explores what it means to be male by visiting traditionally masculine worlds and reflecting on how contemporary masculinity is shaping the lives of men in Britain today.
Groundbreaking and award winning series Transparent followed the gender transition of Maura, also delving into the implications this had on her family.
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For their new book All The People, writer Emily Besa and photographer Bernd Ott travelled to Berlin, London, Los Angeles, Amsterdam and New York to interview people with diverse gender identities. The book explores the different forms of gender expression around the world, the complexities of gender, and how it cannot be easily defined.
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Another recently released book exploring gender is Night Flowers: From Avante-Drag to Extreme Couture by Damien Frost. 'Night Flowers' encompasses the loose-knit society of drag kings and queens, club kids, alternative-queer, and fetishists who come out at night. The stunning images showcase their incredible fashions.
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Drag has entered the mainstream in recent years, following the popularity of events like Sink the Pink and TV show Ru Paul's Drag Race. Take a look at the recent Drag as Art post on the Unique Style Platform daily blog, focusing on drag as an expressive and experimental art form that pushes gender boundaries.
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Female Drag Kings question gender even further by exploring hyper-masculinity. East London's The Glory host a regular drag king night - MAN UP.
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London-based photographer Poem Baker has capture experimental art duo Jungola Klownz, AKA Tuttii Fruittti and Toni Tits. The performers are inspired by a host of various influences, including clown, tribal and drag culture, demonstrating how the art of drag and performance costume has evolved.
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The new beauty icons taking social media by storm are young men, experimenting with using makeup in a different way to traditional drag. Bretman Rock and Manny Guiterrez have a combined Instagram following of over 7 million. Make-up artist and beauty vlogger Jeffree Star has his own uber successful beauty range, and uses make-up to demonstrate his own fluidity gender identity.
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We have been working with Pulse London, creating trend edits at their recent show. Here is a snap of our Connected Trend display - seeking comfort, a slower way of life, and seeing the home as a haven.
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