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Documenting eight years of Bristol’s drag scene
Charley Williams is a queer photographer who has been documenting the Bristol drag scene for almost a decade.
Charley’s first solo exhibition – Mycelium – will run from May 18 to 22 at CentreSpace Gallery, on Leonard Lane in the city centre.
“It’s a love letter to the scene,” she told Bristol24/7. “Through portraits of individuals and documentary photography, it explores the incredible network of care and support that’s grown over the years.”
is needed now More than ever
Charley chose the name Mycelium to represent everyone’s interconnectedness in Bristol’s drag scene. Mycelium is a root-like fungal network, formed of entangled threads beneath the forest floor.
Charley says drag is not just about a man impersonating a woman, its an art form in itself and can be joyful, political, sad and poetic
“Mycelium nourishes the forest ecosystem, in the same way bonds of love, support and understanding sustain the LGBT+ community,” said Charley.
Bristol’s drag community has continued to develop as Charley has documented it. “It’s grown so much that it’s almost impossible to see everything. I’ve seen people perform for the first time, then go on to create their own nights and give a platform to newcomers,” said Charley.
Charley has photographed Bristol’s drag scene as it has grown exponentially over the years
Photographing the community has helped Charley explore her own identity.
“I used to have really bad imposter syndrome. I felt like I was this straight girl who was shouldering my way into a space that wasn’t mine to document,” she said.
“Through making the work and making connections of my own, I’ve come out of my own shell. In addition, it’s helped me to discover my own queer identity.”
For Charley, the work is very personal. The photographs don’t just tell a story from an observer standpoint, they detail Charley’s own personal journey.
Mycelium was chosen as a name to show the support and interconnectedness of Bristol’s LGBT+ scene
Charley hopes that Mycelium will reach people who aren’t usually exposed to drag.
“I think a lot of people think drag is just a man dressed as a woman. It’s so much more than that, it’s a wonderful art form. For example, sometimes it’s emotional, sometimes it’s ridiculously silly,” she said.
“Drag is a way for people to explore unseen parts of themselves. You’re transported to a different world. You have the opportunity to see perspectives that don’t align with mainstream societies’ rules.”
Mycelium explores audience’s relationships with performances as well as the performers themselves
Alongside the exhibition, Charley has made a book of her work. The book features over 100 drag performers and will be available to purchase at the exhibition.
The Mycelium book also includes documentary work, exploring the wide variety of drag shows in Bristol. The book aims to highlight the relationship between performer and audience and chosen family ties, as well as Charley’s personal relationship to the drag scene.
Mycelium will run from 18 to 22 May at CentreSpace Gallery. Tickets are available on Headfirst.
All photos: Charley Williams
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