Malik (English)
FUNCTION (Tamar Carter, Nikolaos Theberge-Dritsas) Daniel Lastres, Malik Miyake-Mugler, S.t.V.a by Brownie 007, 2023, video and effect, hand-made outfit
Installation Images
A corner of a gallery with a flat screen TV on our left wall,
and a gold costume and exhibition text on our right wall. The
exhibition text is titled, “Malik.” The text is black and
repeated in Anishinaabemowin, English, and French with a reader
rail underneath the text. To the left of the text is a gold
shimmery outfit suspended on the wall. On the left wall the TV
has a pair of headphones hanging underneath the right corner and
a chair placed in front of it.
A gold and glittery full body suit. The fabric is a stretchy,
skin tight, and shimmery gold with wide embellished panels of
embroidered sequins in geometric and flower patterns. The panels
cover the front torso in a large V shape and go down the arms
and sides of the pants.
A detailed image of a sequined gold shirt. The chest panel is
covered with hundreds of gold iridescent sequins sewn in floral
patterns with a mesh background making some of the top see
through. The neckline, arms, and sides are made with a gold
stretchy fabric.
Guided Tactile Descriptions
Outfit
A gold and glittery outfit with a crown hung on a wall. The crown is sparkly gold and made out of thin foam. Let’s start with a soft touch at the top of the crown and feel along the ridge for the spiky and peaked edge. Move down the gritty surface of crown till you reach the bottom edge. Feel along that edge towards the center where the rim creates a point. This is where the wearer’s forehead would be. Follow that point further down till you reach the neck line of the outfit. The gold fabric is slippery, stretchy, and feels very much like it’s made out of some sort of plastic. Find the shoulder area and the rough texture of the gold shimmery and iridescent sequins. The sleeves are the same on both sides. Follow that thin strip of fabric all the way down the arm to the wrist. Returning to the collar, directly underneath is a wide mesh panel in the shape of a V that’s been embellished with the same sequins and embroidery. Starting at the top edge of the panel in the middle, move down and feel the rough and bumpy texture of the clusters of sequins on the chest. These sequins are in geometric and flower patterns throughout the entire costume, including the front and backs of the legs. Moving down till you reach the stomach area, you’ll find a slightly different rough and bumpy texture made from small gold embroidered circles in an arch shape. Follow this texture down till you reach the cinched waistband of the pants made out of the slippery gold fabric. Move along the band to the right so you can touch the pant leg on your right, which is symmetrical to the pant leg on your left. The front of the leg has a wide strip of sequins. Now you are going to follow this panel all the way down the leg to the ankle. Then feel around the back of the pant leg across the slippery fabric till you find another panel of sequins. If you follow that strip back up, you may notice that it is closer to the outside of the leg and not the same as the front.
Video
[A fast paced electronic song with the word “go” repeated as part of the beat.]
Description:
‘Malik’ A lithe, bearded Black man wearing beaded gold lamé struts onto a small stage, staring straight at us. In a fast-moving montage, he dances under a spotlight, quickly voguing and posing like a fashion model.
He gestures wildly and kicks high into the air, then beckons us with a seductive look and a curling finger.
Malik spins, then lies on the stage and rolls backwards into the splits. He pretends to preen in a mirror.
Malik rolls across the stage kicking high in the air. He slides into the splits and waves his arms symmetrically.
Malik spreads his legs. On his feet, he waves his arms and dips low, shuffling his hips with his knees pressed together.
Malik stands under the spotlight, hips cocked to one side, swinging his arms and striking quick poses.
He sits on the edge of the stage, voguing, then rolls onto his back in a dramatic pose.
End Credits
Featuring the legendary Malik Miyake-Mugler
Directed by Function
Shot and Edited by Daniel Lastres
Installation Details
Stigma is a reality faced by the Ballroom community. However, even amidst the AIDS epidemic of the 1980s and the more recent COVID-19 pandemic, chosen families have created ways to stay connected, empowering each other, and creating beauty through art. By turning loss into hope, legendary choreographer and dancer Malik Miyake-Mugler vogues fluidly in Malik, experimenting with the unexpected while reaching for newness.
Established during the first COVID-19 lockdown of 2020, FUNCTION is led by Tamar Carter and Nikolaos Theberge-Dritsas. They create spaces for Ballroom-first culture and organize Canada’s largest Ball dedicated to the ongoing fight against HIV and AIDS.
About the Artist
A full body studio portrait of two people turned towards each other,
their bodies pressed close as if they are in a half hug. On the right is
Tamar Carter, a Black middle aged person with medium dark complexion.
She has long straight bleach blonde hair, large black sunglasses, and is
wearing a tailored white mini dress with long sleeves and a starched
collar. Her left arm is lightly placed on her collarbone tucked between
her and Nikolaos Theberge-Dritsas, a white person with a light
complexion. He has buzzed light brown hair, a short beard, glasses, and
is wearing a large puffy army green jacket over a ripped white t-shirt.
They both stare directly at us with fierce expressions.