Looking Now Anyone Here? (expired event)

Examines the function, aesthetics and architecture of public toilets that serve as gay beats.

‘Beats’ are described as areas frequented by gay men and men who have sex with men (MSMs) where cruising occurs. The exhibition investigates the cultural and historical significance of these spaces to local communities. Beats may be less frequented due to the advent of the internet and hook-up apps, however they still act as catalyst for often repressed men to explore their sexuality. Through the dichotomy of public and private, beats subvert the function of surrounding infrastructure, facilitating the potential for liberation and fostering communal identities.