Twiggy – The Drag Market, a new exhibition at Birmingham’s National Trust Back to Backs, will explore the career and creative process behind one of the best-known personas of Birmingham’s queer scene. The new exhibition, opening January 26, will feature costumes and photography from the past 40 years, showcasing Birmingham LGBTQ+ icon, Twiggy.
This free exhibition will be located in the Back to Backs’ exhibition space above the second-hand bookshop on Hurst Street, in the heart of the city’s queer village. Previously, photos of Twiggy had already graced this space as part of the Gary Lindsay-Moore: It’s Not Unusual exhibition which featured a series of photographs by local artist Gary Lindsay-Moore, inspired by the Kahn & Bell shop.
In Twiggy – The Drag Market, visitors will follow Twiggy’s journey from inspired shop assistant in the early 1980s at the well-loved Birmingham punk shop Kahn and Bell, to the powerhouse of flamboyance they are today, defying boundaries of gender and stereotype.
Twiggy’s fearless fashion grew from a love of sewing and performance. Many outfits were inspired by 1940s Hollywood, with a particular fondness for stars such as Joan Crawford and Bette Davis. Visitors can view a selection of these costumes, worn at various Pride events across the country, on show at the exhibition.
A highly skilled costume maker, Twiggy has been creating original and dramatic outfits themselves for over 35 years. These outfits are then brought to life through their love of theatrics and performance, piecing together music tracks, along with witty and acerbic commentary.
Ashton Cartmell, Operations Manager at the National Trust Birmingham Back to Backs, said of the exhibition: “Over the past 200 years there has been a diverse mix of communities in Birmingham’s Southside, with tailoring and fashion being a common theme and a big influence for many, including the Back to Backs last business owner, George Saunders, who ran a very successful tailors’ shop in the area. In the 1980s, the punk shop, Kahn & Bell, just a few doors away from the Back to Backs, sat at the centre of Birmingham’s alternative and punk scene. Kahn & Bell was an inspiration to countless people and the start of Twiggy’s fabulous story.
“We couldn’t be happier to play a part in sharing Twiggy’s story, as well as celebrating their technical skills and creative vision. As an instantly recognisable figure of Birmingham’s nightlife and Pride celebrations, Twiggy is a legend of Birmingham’s LGBTQ+ community. The exhibition will no doubt be nostalgic for many people who have followed Twiggy’s work, and for others, it will provide a wonderful insight into a vibrant chapter in Birmingham’s history. We can’t wait to share Twiggy’s story and eye-catching costumes with everyone.”
The exhibition opens Friday, January 26 and runs until Birmingham Pride weekend at the end of May. It is free to enter and visitors do not need to book or have been on a tour of the Back to Backs. Viewing times are Tuesday & Wednesday 1pm – 5pm, Thursday – Saturday 10am – 5pm and Sundays 10.30am – 5pm.
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