Printed Fabric, Costume and Public Protest, London, 2018
Drag Against Trump
In July 2018, drag artist Cheddar Gorgeous invited Mark to design printed fabric for Drag Against Trump, a protest staged in London to coincide with Donald Trump’s visit to the UK. The work became part of a highly visible public action that combined drag, performance and political intervention.
The Invitation
Cheddar Gorgeous invited Mark to design printed fabric for Drag Against Trump, a protest staged in London in July 2018 to coincide with Donald Trump’s visit to the UK. The brief called for something that could carry a message at street level and hold up under press attention on the day.
The work became part of a highly visible public action that combined drag, performance and political intervention, staged at Piccadilly Circus in central London.
The Pattern
Mark designed a repeating graphic pattern that brought together imagery symbolising wider global and social issues, using print as a visual language capable of operating at scale and under media scrutiny.
The pattern was produced in three distinct colourways, one for each performer, so the same design could read as a single, coordinated statement across three separate outfits moving through a crowd.
The Costumes
The printed fabric was constructed into full costumes by drag artist and designer Liquorice Black, and worn by Cheddar Gorgeous, Liquorice Black and Anna Phylactic, positioning the printed work at the centre of the protest’s visual identity.
Each look pushed the pattern into a different silhouette, from tailored jackets to full-skirted gowns, so the same fabric could carry the message across very different shapes and characters.
The Protest
The action received extensive national media coverage, with the performers appearing across major outlets including BBC Newsnight and The Guardian. Through collaboration, costume and repetition, the work demonstrated how graphic practice can operate as a live, collective and media-facing form of protest.
Commission a Similar Project
I take on a small number of print and costume commissions each year, working directly with performers, collectives and campaigns who need graphic work made to be worn, carried or seen at scale, primarily across Manchester, the Peak District and further afield.
If you are planning a performance, a public action, or a piece that needs to hold up under real-world conditions rather than sit in a gallery, I would like to hear about it early, while the brief is still open.
Get in touch about a commission →
Questions
What was Drag Against Trump?
A protest staged in London in July 2018 to coincide with Donald Trump’s visit to the UK, combining drag, performance and political intervention at Piccadilly Circus.
What did Mark contribute to Drag Against Trump?
A repeating graphic pattern, printed in three colourways and made into costumes worn by the three performers taking part.
Who invited Mark to take part?
Drag artist Cheddar Gorgeous, who asked Mark to design printed fabric for the protest.
Who made the costumes from the fabric?
Drag artist and designer Liquorice Black constructed the costumes, which were worn by Cheddar Gorgeous, Liquorice Black and Anna Phylactic.
Did Drag Against Trump get media coverage?
Yes. The performers and the work appeared across major outlets including BBC Newsnight and The Guardian.
Can Moderate Studio design printed fabric or costume for a performance or protest?
Yes. Moderate Studio takes on a small number of print and costume commissions each year, working with performers, collectives and campaigns on graphic work made to be worn, carried or seen at scale.
From the Journal
From the Print Table to the Street
Dated entries following Drag Against Trump, from printing the fabric to the London protest and the bags made afterwards.
Selected Work