Of course, Bridge Markland is far more than a Drag King.
Bridge, who I have drawn many times, is a performer in the classic tradition, a clown and puppeteer and artist’s model and archivist of Queer Berlin culture. She is an actor who can bring the ghosts of Weimar to life when inhabited by the spirit of Anita Berber, and a dancer who can grind it industrial. Sascha, above, is one of her classic characters!
And Bridge is a welcoming signpost to the young gender performers of Berlin.
She has a wonderful relationship with the Venus Boys and several joined her onstage.
Bleach, above, did a delicate transform into an ivory slip dress and loose blonde curls. I tried to capture the way their feminine beauty was visible even before the masculine drag was removed.
I am always excited to draw the amazing Venus Boys, “a collective of Berlin based Drag performers who paint from the palette of performative masculinity”.
Here’s a post about Bridge and Buba Sababa performing together last year.
Bridge Markland, throwing away gender norms since 1995!
You love to see it. Bridge has a legendary tongue, this drawing does not exaggerate it!
It was a joy to document this show.