Dusty O brings frenetic colour to fusty environs
As Trump-touting helicopters whirred over Whitehall and the US president’s staggering security detail clattered over cobbles wielding machine guns, the great and the good of the gay scene gathered at the Houses of Parliament.
The political turmoil raging outside made the perfect backdrop for the exhibition inside – Dusty O’s artworks broil with colour and passion, and sometimes anger. It was the first ever drag exhibition at Parliament, and the crowd reflected that.
Milling around the startlingly patterned Jubilee Room, a function space round the back entrance (again, very appropriate) were a veritable melting pot of London’s queer glitterati.
East London was represented in full force, with Glory co-owner John Sizzle in attendance in a fetching baseball cap, as well as Colin Rothbart and drag king sensation Adam All.
Of course Dusty’s stomping grounds were always the sultry streets of Soho, and the endless stream of Sohocialites reflected that, from Circa’s anodyne androgyne Jonathan Bestley, to divisive damsel Vanity Von Glow (well, she said she was there for the exhibition – we suspect it was actually to step in for Melania at the ambassador dinner if she became “mysteriously ill”).
The twenty artworks adorned the walls of the two rooms, ranging drastically in shape and size. One particularly attention grabbing piece was a circular disc, emblazoned with various insults hurled at Dusty over the years.
Another depicted Trump standing with the Queen and a decidedly drag queen-esque Vladimir Putin. Dusty’s paintings are aquitet childlike, and we certainly don’t mean that as an insult – they’re childlike in the most joyful sense. Not taking themselves seriously, totally unselfconscious. It’s clear just from looking at them that Dusty has an absolute blast creating them.
The exhibition at Parliament was a one-night-only event, but you can look at and purchase Dusty’s paintings at saatchiart.com/dustyo.
