Leigh Bowery! The ‘Taboo’ Artist is Brought Back to the Tate Museum. 

Leigh Bowery the late Australian-born performance artist has had his unique and – some may say controversial work – brought back to life. The Tate Museum located in Southwark, London has opened its new exhibition displaying and celebrating Bowery’s artistic life and flamboyant individuality that radiated throughout his career. The exhibition opened on the 27th February and will run into the summer, leaving London on the 31st August.   

Bowery made his iconic and influential appearance onto the art scene during the 90’s leaving a specific stamp on drag, body modification and club culture as well as his avant-garde performance artistic techniques. The art space tours round grand rooms that include over two hundred images as well as diverse art pieces such as; film stills, polaroids from his club days, paintings and fashion photography. 

The main feature of the exhibition is the breathtaking recreation of Bowery’s renowned, London club, ‘Taboo.’ The club was founded in 1985 and at the time was known as the legendary space for eccentric party-goers who also adored art. The club was known for its gender-fluidity and anti-elitist atmosphere creating a space for total creative freedom. The Tates re-incarnation of this takes guests through the wild club when it was at its prime, at the centre of the collaboration between art and personal identity.    

Fiontán Moran curated the exhibition, he is known for his contributions to a handful of iconic spaces within the Tate and the fabrication of his zine “Death Becomes Herr.” Moran has expressed that the exhibition is “long overdue”. Moran has included an overarching monograph edited by himself providing extra insight in the form of essays, and images that further explore the icon that is Leigh Bowery. 

Not only does the art showcase focus deeply on Bowery and his legacy but the exhibit has many interesting features of like-minded individuals that were in his timeline and life along the way. Sue Tilley, Trojan, Les Child, Lady Bunny and Boy George are a handful of names that are sprinkled through the space.  The exhibition is a creative minefield containing a vibrant space of art and freedom.