PHOTOGRAPHY: Clifford Prince King’s “While Night Comes On Gently” is an Intimate Look at Black Queer Masculinity.

Feb 4

For his debut solo show, photographer Clifford Prince King captured images of his friends and lovers between 2017 and 2020 to explore Black Queer masculinity.

Speaking to Dazed, King said, “The majority of the work is centred around the time of day when the sun meets the horizon and creates a familiar tonal light often referred to as ‘golden hour’. The images suggest an end of the day mindset, which could take on many forms, like frustration, bliss, solitude, or the feeling of being reunited with your lover after another triumphed day.”

For the Los Angeles-based artist, the work is also aimed at young Queer Black men who are trying to navigate their identities. “Had I seen some of the work that I was making when I was younger, I would've had a much easier time growing into myself because there wasn't a lot of queer Black representation that I was aware of,” says King in an interview with i-D. “So I hope that helps people fast-forward through a lot of years of misunderstanding oneself.”

“While Night Comes On Gently”, which is inspired by “Dream Variations”, a poem by Langston Hughes, also reflects some of King’s personal experiences. Night Sweats (2018), for example, was taken within a few days of his HIV diagnosis.