Mullet-Awards

Mullet, a short-long journey into the past

The mullet is a haircut that has fascinated us for decades and at the same time, can seem rather alienating to many people. Nowadays, it is charged with a striking symbolism of identity, rebellion, and feminism, but more so in liberal European cities. In some American States, for example, the mullet is associated with conservative Americans. The interesting history of the mullet motivated me to start the project and soon offer it an exhibition. With the Mullet Awards, I embarked on a photographic journey to explore the different people in Switzerland who wear this iconic hairstyle. The roots of the mullet can be traced back to various ancient civilizations. Vikings, Romans, and indigenous people often wore different variations of the mullet because it was a militarily useful haircut. In Rome, the “Hun cut” is already mentioned, and the Greek poet Homer described the hairstyle with the words “their forelocks cropped, hair grown long at the backs”. In the 1980s, it became a symbol of rebellion (David Bowie). Nowadays, the mullet frequently challenges traditional gender norms and is also regularly worn by Queer people or in liberal circles. In a feminist context, it symbolizes the rebellion against gender-specific appearance. Through historical, feminist, political, and contemporary perspectives, this project invites the viewer to reflect on the power of personal expression, the appropriateness of hairstyles, and the changing meaning of the mullet.