A Memorial for XXL , 2020 mixed media

Referencing the typology of Gothic religious altars, “A memorial for XXL” is a physical manifestation of the men-only nightclub once located in Southwark, South London. XXL was the de-facto ‘temple’ of London’s bear and leather communities for almost two decades. Although controversial because of its strict door policy that rejected any visible signs of femininity, it held a special place in London’s gay scene as the last remaining super club equipped with a labyrinthine darkroom. The altar amplifies and denotes spatial characteristics of XXL that were once hidden and unknown to passers-by. The focal point of the installation lies in the circle in the middle. The circle itself ‘glorifies’ the glory-hole, a common characteristic of the darkroom typology and a denominator of transgressive sexuality. Aside for the symbolic, the circle enables mourners to pay their respects with offerings.