Hip

Hip (2026)
8x10 - Lustre Print
 
Artist: Koko Momo
Photographer: MCP Photo | McKenna C Poe
Location: Between Space Studio
 
Helium, a magical element, the second lightest, lifts us up in celebratory balloons and when you suck it down to impersonate a cartoon it makes us laugh. Mix it up with some hydrogen and it’s what stars are made of, just like the artist of this month’s collab.
 
Artist’s Statement: Conceptualizing this dress as my “Outrageous Gown” for the National Comedy Queen Pageant was no joke (pun intended). For this category, I wanted to make something larger than life that I'd still be able to fit in my suitcase from Brooklyn to Florida. So inflatable was the answer! Koko Momo is a very playful and joyous human clown so wearing a bouncy castle just felt completely right. The construction of this gown was a challenge and I couldn’t have done it without the collaboration of an incredible costume designer, Pierretta Viktori , who made a freaking dress out of bouncy house materials! This gown was a group project; my family came in to rhinestone it all, Chevy Lace, an incredible drag king, helped with the structure logistics, and my partner made sure I could get in and out of it in the only space where the dress could fit inflated in our apartment…the kitchen. For me, drag is an expression of things that bring me the most joy and laughter, so the outpouring of people who connect with this dress has been a delight to witness. We all just want to be silly lil guys but we're told we have to grow up and be fancy adults…which is so not true. Do the things that bring you joy; I dare you to look at the world through the lens of your inner child.
 
Proceeds of the prints from this collection are split equally between the photographer, the artist, and the organization or crowd-funding effort of the artist’s choice. Koko Momo has selected The Immigration Coalition, an immigration advocacy group highlighting and sending funds directly to folks in need. Find out more @immigrationcoalition 
 
audio recommendation: “Jump” by Van Halen 
 
See more on Instagram or at MCPPHOTO.com