French photographer François Prost embarked on a unique journey across the United States, capturing often-overlooked architecture of strip clubs. His latest book, Gentlemen’s Club, chronicles a five-week road trip in 2019, covering over 6,000 miles from Miami to Los Angeles.
Prost's focus was not on the interiors or the performances within these establishments,but rather on their vibrant and sometimes surreal facades. He noted that unlike in Europe, where such venues often blend into the background, American strip clubs boldly announce their presence with flashy designs and eye-catching signage. “A good example would be Las Vegas, where strip clubs are everywhere and their signs blink as much as a fast food restaurant or casino sign,” Prost remarked.
His exploration revealed two distinct types of strip clubs: those that are integrated into public landscape, often found near amusement parks and malls, and others that are more discreet,camouflaged within strip malls. Prost found many of these hidden gems along the Bible Belt,a region known for its conservative values . He was intrigued by contrast between the prevalence of strip clubs and the conservative attitudes prevalent in these areas.
Prost's fascination with strip clubs stems from a desire to understand American culture through the lens of architecture. He approached the project as a documentary-style endeavor,aiming to capture the changing attitudes toward sex,gender,and commerce. “The prism of this theme of strip club facades became a way of studying and trying to understand the country,” he explained. The photographs serve as a commentary on the sexualization of women and the commodification of their image.
His journey began with a previous project in 2018,titled After Party,which focused on the flamboyant exteriors of French nightclubs. Observers often noted that the buildings looked as if they belonged in American cities, prompting Prost to extend his work across the Atlantic. He was surprised by the sheer number of strip clubs in the U.S. and their unapologetic visibility.
In cities like Miami, Prost found clubs adorned in pastel colors reminiscent of a Wes Anderson film. He documented venues that stood out starkly against their surroundings,often characterized by bright hues and whimsical designs . During his visits,Prost would enter these establishments during the day,seeking permission to photograph their facades. “Most of the time, people were OK — 99% of them would say yes to a facade picture,” he noted.
Encounters with club staff varied widely. Some were indifferent,while others were enthusiastic about Prost’s project,offering business cards and expressing excitement about the final product . He noted that normalization of strip clubs in American culture was striking. “Going to a strip club seems to be a lot more normalized. You go as a couple,or amongst friends at night to have fun,” he observed.
Prost also noted the unique dining experiences offered by many strip clubs, particularly in Las Vegas, where establishments often double as restaurants . “I noticed a few strip clubs that would advertise being a strip club and steakhouse,so you could eat a big piece of meat while watching strippers,” he said. This blend of dining and entertainment reflects a distinctly American approach to such venues.
The humorous and often absurd signage outside these clubs adds another layer to Prost's work. Signs with jokes like “My sex life is like the Sahara,2 palms,no dates” and pun-based names such as Booby Trap and Bottoms Up contribute to surreal atmosphere. Prost's documentarian style invites viewers to reflect on the objectification of women, as the facades often depict faceless silhouettes of dancers.
Prost’s exploration of these establishments culminates in his book,which he describes as an objective panorama of societal attitudes toward gender and sexuality. The title itself, Gentlemen’s Club,echoes the frequent signage found across the venues he photographed . His work captures the essence of a culture where business success can overshadow the nature of the activities involved .
Looking ahead, Prost plans to shift his focus to Japan, where he intends to document love hotels,which serve a similar role in society as strip clubs do in the U.S. He believes that while the American strip clubs he visited reflect a unique aspect of the American dream, they also reveal deeper societal norms regarding sexuality.
The exhibition of Gentlemen’s Club is set to take place at Agnes b. Galerie Boutique in Tokyo from March 17 to April 15, 2023. The book,published by Fisheye Editions, is currently available for purchase .
