Machine Dazzle – Queer Maximalism, Daniel Lismore – Be Yourself, Everyone Else Is Already Taken

Two former club-kids now famous for their creations. Machine Dazzle emerged from the queer cabaret and drag of 90’s New York and has worked closely with Taylor Mac and Justin Bond. Daniel Lismore came out of Coventry in the 2000’s and has designed for opera and worked more generally in fashion. Both show what Machine Dazzle calls “queer maximalism”, loading the designed work with detail and references and elaboration. They are a gift to galleries and both books relate to exhibitions. There are differences, of course. Machine Dazzle’s work has more to do with theatre and performance, Daniel Lismore’s with living sculpture and fashion. “Queer Maximalism” is an ideas book with a lot of reflection and analysis by friends and curators whereas “Be Yourself, Everyone Else Is Already Taken” is a catalogue of the recent exhibition of Daniel’s work and is mainly pictures. All the images in both books delight and occasionally defeat the eyes. I have written about the Daniel exhibition in another entry on this site. No doubt they have met – a transcript of their conversation would be interesting.