Installation

The Permissible Beauty installation is a bold and unique statement in the most iconic of heritage spaces.

Bringing together historic and contemporary portraiture, new research that encourages visitors to look at collections in fresh ways, digital projection, poetry and sound – the installation is a reflection on belonging, identity and whose lives are valued most (and whose are often overlooked) in the stories we tell in our national heritage institutions.

At the heart of the installation – in the enormous Christopher Wren designed Cartoon Gallery – visitors will meet our six contemporary Black Queer beauties – brought to life through Robert Taylor’s stunning photography.

‘Skin and soul’ portraits (of our unadorned sitters) are mounted on large scale monoliths through which visitors can walk. Three metres high screens hail a new chapter of British beauty – an arresting three screen digital projection that brings historic and contemporary beauties into conversation with other.

The installation will run from 14 January to 26 February 2023. More information is available on the Historic Royal Palace’s website.