Donning a fa(ça)de acknowledges that the Dutch black barbershop strictly expects masculinity from its visitors. Gender expression in this space is performed, physically represented by the fade: a rigidly angled haircut, characterized by a short stubble. Frequent shop-visits grooms singular black masculinity in its expected weekly upkeep. As a result, assimilationist demands for black manhood are etched deep into the diasporic community, turning the fade into a fa(ça)de.
The project reflects on personal experiences across the Netherlands’ barbershops, by re-imagining the chair with queer black people. Through fixated posture, rigid behavior and communication the barber chair and mirror reflect the fa(ça)de. By getting haircuts the designer discovers that the kapsalon enables a potential for black people to freely exist outside of the Dutch norm. Altering the chair expresses the designers’ personal wish to not shrink himself, but to stretch out what “masculinity”
portrays by adapting a new posture. Collectivity, intimacy and mutual care are inherent to the salon’s existence.
The Kapsalon barber chair* portrays an alternate fa(ça)de by exploring the possibilities of the barber chair through material, audio and visuals. The mirror reflects a distorted reality; queerness is not there yet but can exist in the barbershop. Donning a fa(ça)de: the Kapsalon* barber chair invites the visitor to see beyond the fa(ça)de and recognize the queerness of blackness in the barbershop.
Gratitude for Sofia, Ana Paula, Rafik, River and Faustin.