Donning a Fa(ça)de: The Kapsalon* Barber Chair

‘Donning A Fa(ça)de’ acknowledges that the Dutch Black barbershop enforces a narrow performance of masculinity. This is embodied by ‘the fade’ — a sharply defined haircut maintained through regular visits, reinforcing expectations of singular Black manhood. Over time, these pressures shape how masculinity is expressed and understood within the diasporic community, turning the fade into a ‘fa(ça)de’. The barber chair and mirror reflect this through rigid posture, constrained behaviour and coded communication.

Drawing on personal experience, the project reimagines the barber chair through a queer Black lens. Rather than shrink to fit imposed norms, the redesigned chair expresses designer Derrick Crichlow’s desire to expand what masculinity can be. It embraces the collectivity, intimacy and care rooted in salon culture, while exploring its potential through material, audio, and visual interventions. The mirror reflects a distorted reality — queerness may not yet be fully present in the barbershop, but its possibility begins here.

With thanks to Sofia, Ana Paula, Rafik, River, and Jermaine Faustin.