French photographer François Prost embarked on an unusual journey across the United States, capturing the facades of strip clubs from Miami to Los Angeles. His latest book, Gentlemen’s Club, documents this 6,000-mile road trip, focusing on the colorful and often surreal exteriors of these establishments.
Prost's interest lay not in the interiors or the activities within, but in the architecture and how these buildings fit into the American landscape. Over five weeks in 2019, he photographed venues ranging from the pastel-colored Club Pink Pussycat in Florida to more discreet locations in the Bible Belt, a region known for its conservative values. He noted a stark contrast between the prevalence of strip clubs and the region's puritanical reputation.
“I’d divide these venues into two types: One is very integrated into the public landscape, and one is a bit more hidden and dodgy, ” Prost explained. The more conspicuous clubs are often found near amusement parks, fast food outlets, and malls, while others blend into strip malls, especially in conservative areas.
The project, which Prost describes as a landscape photography endeavor, aims to offer an objective view of American culture through the lens of architecture. His work examines changing attitudes toward sex, gender, and commerce, with the facades serving as a prism to study and understand the country.
The inspiration for Gentlemen’s Club came from Prost’s earlier series, “After Party, ” which explored the flamboyant facades of French nightclubs. Observations that these buildings resembled American structures led him to extend his project to the US, where he found that strip clubs often demanded attention with their bold designs.
In cities like Las Vegas, strip clubs are ubiquitous, with signs as flashy as those of fast food restaurants or casinos. Miami’s clubs, meanwhile, are painted in vibrant, Wes Anderson-esque colors. Prost’s photos capture these eye-catching exteriors, contrasting them with their surroundings, whether urban or desert.
During his travels, Prost sought permission to photograph the clubs, explaining his intentions to avoid suspicion. He encountered a range of reactions, from indifferent bouncers to enthusiastic managers eager to see the final product. Most were accommodating, allowing him to photograph the facades as long as he avoided capturing patrons or dancers.
Prost was surprised by how normalized strip clubs appeared in American life. Unlike in Europe, visiting a strip club in the US seems more accepted, with people attending as couples or groups of friends for entertainment. He noted that many Las Vegas clubs double as restaurants, offering happy hour deals and buffets, a concept he found distinctly American.
The facades often feature humorous signs and pun-based names like Booby Trap and Bottoms Up, adding a layer of surreal comedy to Prost’s documentary approach. Yet, the project also invites viewers to consider the objectification of women, as the clubs market female bodies as consumable commodities.
Prost’s next venture will take him to Japan, where he plans to document love hotels, which, like American strip clubs, are open secrets in a conservative society. However, he believes the American strip clubs he photographed reveal something unique about the country, highlighting a culture where business success can overshadow the nature of the activity, even when it involves sex.
Gentlemen’s Club will be exhibited at Agnes b. Galerie Boutique in Tokyo from March 17 to April 15, 2023. The book, published by Fisheye Editions, is currently available.
