John Simone Photography - RuPaul: Evolution of an Icon Exhibition

RuPaul: Evolution of an Icon
John Simone Photography

80's New York Nightlife Images of RuPaul

Who is RuPaul?
She is quintessentially herself, her own invention, an icon of elegance, inspiring generations of
LGBTQ people in their quest end the narrow and oppressive gender identity enforced by mainstream society.

Simone is fascinated by RuPaul because she emanates a fierce confidence and charisma, promoting
her fashion glamour as a vehicle of authentic personal liberation. She is living proof of a creative space
between the extremes of masculine and feminine, a space where everyone can explore the dimensions
of their true selves.

RuPaul expresses her vitality best in her own words: “You’re born naked; everything else is drag.”
- ENDS -

Notes to editors:
• At RuPaul's 2017 NY DragCon John Simone joined the Herstory of Downtown: Manhattan Nightlife Icons
panel with international trans-performer and author Amanda Lepore (Doll Parts)
and original NY celebutante & writer James St. James (Party Monster) with
moderator, scene-chronicler Michael Musto (Tea Room, Javits Hall C - 6pm - Sat. Sept. 9th).

• Simone presents these images to engage people with issues of gender identity who may find a sense of connection
through exposure to the historical context of drag and how RuPaul and other gender warriors have lead the way
in the ongoing struggle for acceptance by mainstream society.

Background:
Rudolf Piper (impresario of 1980’s NY clubs Danceteria and Tunnel):
“[Simone] managed to portray an era capturing exactly the energy, the craziness and the creativity that made it unique!
In the future, this NY that existed in the eighties will be seen on the same level as Paris in the twenties, Berlin during
the Weimar Republic and Shanghai in the thirties - and [Simone’s] photos will bear witness to that!”

Michael Musto - TheBlot.com:
“Patrick McMullan was a burgeoning young photographer on the scene, as were
Wolfgang Wesener and Ben Buchanan, plus Nelson Sullivan was a regular, filming all the
glam minutiae for epic documentaries that would find their way onto YouTube years later.

Pushing himself into this mix, Simone was always fearless, enthusiastic and game for anything.
The twinkle in his eyes spoke volumes about his love for capturing the ruling class of clubs,
who had the power because they were the most creatively beautiful and culturally daring
ones for miles. He still has that twinkle.”

(Exhibition Note)
John Simone’s work covers a changing of the guard in New York nightlife. Post-Warhol New York
found faith in the full-frontal satirical attack on fashion & culture by Michael Alig’s club kids
who were fleeing suburbia towards nightlife notoriety as full-fledged fabulous nobodies. Alig was
the ersatz Warhol who had an ad hoc Factory force of 400 freaks that he re-christened with
silly club names. They then faithfully followed him onto the front pages of fanzines like
Project X magazine, aptly edited by Alig with provocative photos by John Simone.

In the quise of innocent nerd, Simone infiltrated this Subterranean Society
unimpeded, and recorded the outré masques which actually exposed an aching
vulnerability. His voyeurism validated the aspirations of this manic and
uber-fashion-victim vanguard.

(Curator’s Note)
Simone has embraced, documented and participated in the brave metaphors of persuasive fetish and
style, turning sexuality on its head. While fiercely flashing the 1980’s NY scene, Simone is
bent on validating the existence of self-inventing personae. In the process, he documents
the creation of an untamed fashion world that challenges mainstream culture. Simone’s
influences are clearly seen in the works of Brassai, WeeGee and Arbus:
shots of whores, criminals and freaks.