The first major exhibition showcasing the ballroom scene is here

A new exhibition highlighting the art and the performance showcased in the ever-expanding ballroom scene has landed in Madrid, complete with a radical soundtrack curated by scene pioneer MikeQ.

The show, titled ‘Elements of Vogue: A Case Study in Radical Performance’ will run until May at Spanish gallery CA2M. The first of its kind, the exhibition is devoted to the underground nightclub culture, the black radical traditions and the performance and people who are fuelling the scene now and historically.

London based co-curator of the show Sabel Gavaldon explained over email, “Music is center stage in this exhibition”, adding “This exhibition explores the emergence of voguing as a case study in radical performance, considering ways in which political minorities use their bodies to produce dissenting forms of beauty, subjectivity, and desire.”

Featuring work from a slew of performers, artists and other cultural figures, the art on show reference the struggles and successes of artists such as Nina Simone, Roberta Flack and Masters of Work. Alternatively, pieces referencing more contemporary sounds, such as the works of DJ Sprinkles, Kanye West, and the flourishing Jersey club scene will depict a modern-imagining of the themes discussed through the art.

Ballroom icon MikeQ has also lent his talents to the project, creating a bombastic, beat-heavy mixtape for the show.

Check out MikeQ’s mixtape here, and take a look at some images from the exhibition below.‘Elements of Vogue: A Case Study in Radical Performance’ is open now, running through until May 6.

Jasmine Kent-Smith is Mixmag's Weekend Editor. Follow her on Twitter

Photo credits: Pedro Agustín and Arantxa Boyero