Riku – Kevin Osepa

Barbershops usually function as a safe space, especially in western societies where racism plays a role. In this same space, you find hyper-masculinity that is paired with homophobia, which can make it an unwelcoming place for black gay men. Based on their sexuality and the perception of it by others, black gay men risk losing valued memberships to institutions that have a legacy of uplifting and uniting black communities. Osepa spent a few weeks working in his local barbershop to capture intimate moments between barbers and customers. A moment when all hyper-masculinity briefly disappears. Almost like a solar eclipse.