Welcome to the over-the-top, extravagant world of Leigh Bowery, a key figure in New Romanticism and London nightlife in the 1980s. With his bizarre outfits, a mix of kitsch and fetish, and his eccentric performances, he influenced artists, musicians and stylists like Boy George, Lucian Freud (of whom he became the muse), Vivienne Westwood, Anthony and the Johnsons, John Galliano and David LaChapelle. Born in Australia into an intensely religious family and brought up in a Melbourne suburb, Leigh moved to London where he worked as a fashion designer and a promoter, and started the legendary disco club night "Taboo", the first outrageous polysexual party in London. The documentary offers a fully rounded portrait of this artist, including interviews with the people who knew him, who describe a complex, extreme, and ironic personality, a performer, actor and designer ahead of his time, from his difficult early life to international success, up to his death in 1994.
Aunque no logra transmitir del todo la enorme influencia que tuvo Leigh Bowery, sí muestra ese lado transgresor, la moda, el performance y el uso de su propio cuerpo como un lienzo, incluso esas decisiones artisticas que cruzaron líneas éticas y que al dia de hoy tambien serian cuestionables.Una figura adelantada a su tiempo y en muchos aspectos, también al nuestro. El final se siente plano, pero el documental consigue retratar, a grandes rasgos, por qué Leigh Bowery fue un auténtico revolucionario
Karl Steiger5.0
Superb documentary on one of the greatest performance artists, and biggest attention-seekers, of the twentieth century, whose influence can still be felt to this very day. RIP, Leigh.
Zachary Ruane
I didn’t know the Leigh Bowery was Australian until earlier this morning. That’s why I watched this. Solid doco. I like that it focused more on his career and his work than his life.
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Common questions
What is The Legend of Leigh Bowery about?+
The documentary chronicles the life, creative process, and influence of the avant-garde performance artist and fashion designer Leigh Bowery, who was central to the London underground scene in the 1980s.
Who directed The Legend of Leigh Bowery?+
The film was directed by Charles Atlas, an artist and filmmaker known for his collaborations with dance and performance creators.
