DKUK: Q&A with Daniel Kelly

ArtRabbit contacted Daniel Kelly the artist, stylist and creator of DKUK to give insight into what being an art gallery salon entails.

Q: How did the idea of having an art gallery and a hair salon come about?

I first trained as a hairdresser as a way to escape Buxton (my home town). I had never had ambitions to be a hairdresser but just fell into it, after a few years and a few cities in the north of England working as a hairdresser I got bored of salon life and decided to go to art college in London. I wanted to distance myself from hairdressing and concentrate on being an artist but it was impossible to escape because people would find out about my secret profession and want their haircut. So I would sit curators and artists in my studio in front of my paintings while cutting their hair. DKUK was born first as a pop­up at Ancient & Modern in August 2013 then it was launched in Peckham with Art Licks Weekend in October 2014. It was initially for one day and five months later we’re still there and we have just secured Arts Council England funding for the next six months.

Q: Who gets their haircut and how do they interact and react to the work?

DKUK is situated in an arcade that perfectly reflects the ethnic breakdown of Peckham, and it is expanding quickly so our audience is growing weekly. There are many curious local residents who are finding out about the salon as a good place to get a top quality haircut for cheap in a unique environment. We also have a new stylist who grew up in South East London so he brings his network to the space. He also cuts afro hair so we can provide services to a larger part of the community in the area. I am very interested in sitting a new audience in front of the installations and believe the haircut is a time where one has little to do so why not look at or talk about something interesting? We also get an art audience who come to experience interesting work and to get a good haircut! Most people are more open to the work they are experiencing, once the haircut has begun since there is no pressure to be anywhere else. Obviously there is huge range of reactions to the work but even people who don’t normally visit a gallery tend to give things a bit more time. It’s also be very popular with returning clients as there is something different on display each time they visit.

Q: What is currently on view and what’s coming up next?

Bare Life & Bio­politics in Kennington Park by Stephen Hall, a film of over five years of recording the stories of the people who hang out in Kennington Park. Next will be Alan Kane at the end of April (currently untitled).

Q: How do you think getting your haircut while being surrounded by art changes art viewing and the salon experience?

In a city as busy as this one I think it gives people more time to look at something. It’s a revolution in the salon environment by giving the hairdresser and client something interesting to talk about other than their hair, and it also vanquishes the worry often associate with a visit to the salon by removing the mirror from the process until the very last moment at least..

DKUK is open Wendesday - Saturday 12­ - 7pm (or by appointment).
Hair cuts £35 Ladies, £30 gents (first cut pay what you can)

135a Rye Lane, Unit 20 K&S Arcade, SE15 4ST, London
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