French photographer François Prost embarked on a unique road trip across America, seeking out strip clubs as his subject matter. However, his focus wasn’t on the nude women typically associated with these establishments, but rather on the vibrant and colorful facades of the buildings themselves. Prost’s latest book, “Gentlemen’s Club,” features photographs of nearly 150 strip clubs, capturing everything from pastel hues in Florida to hidden venues in more conservative regions. Through this project, Prost aimed to explore the intersection of sex, gender, and commerce, documenting the changing attitudes towards sexuality through architectural photography.
According to Prost, the strip clubs he encountered can be divided into two types: those that blend seamlessly into the public landscape, often found near amusement parks, fast food joints, and malls; and those that are more hidden and dodgy, resembling any store in a strip mall. He was particularly intrigued by the prevalence of strip clubs in the socially conservative Bible Belt, which seemed to contrast with the region’s conservatism and puritanism.
During his journey, Prost focused solely on the exteriors of the clubs, visiting them during the day and having little interest in their interiors or services. He aimed to create objective, documentary-style photographs that would reveal insights into American culture. His project acts as a prism through which he examines dominant opinions, gender, and the sexualization of the feminine image.
Prost’s project was inspired by his previous series, “After Party,” which showcased the flamboyant facades of French nightclubs. Observing similarities between the facades in France and those in America, he felt compelled to extend his project to the US. He was struck by the bold and unmistakable nature of American strip club exteriors, with hot pink walls, nude silhouettes, and candy-cane-striped storefronts leaving no room for ambiguity.
When entering the clubs, Prost would ask for permission to photograph, ensuring that he did not appear suspicious. The interiors rarely matched the alluring promises displayed on the signs outside, but Prost encountered a multitude of characters during his trip. While the normalization of strip clubs in American society surprised him, he noted that people visited these establishments as a form of entertainment, often going as couples or in groups of friends.
The facades of the strip clubs are adorned with jokes and clever puns, contributing to their surreal and comedic nature. Prost’s documentary approach allows viewers to form their own opinions about the objectification of women, as the female silhouettes and explicit signage take center stage while the actual women remain absent. The commodification of women is evident in the food-themed names and advertisements emphasizing the quantity and appearance of the dancers.
Prost’s next project will take him to Japan, where he plans to document the nation’s love hotels, which share a similar role with strip clubs in some parts of the US. However, he believes that his exploration of American strip clubs reveals something unique about the country — a reflection of the American dream, where success in business overshadows the nature of the activity itself.
The “Gentlemen’s Club” exhibition will be held at Agnes b. Galerie Boutique in Tokyo, Japan, from March 17 to April 15, 2023. The book, published by Fisheye Editions, is currently available.
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