Photographer Interview:
Olivia Lifungula
BIO
Olivia Lifungula is a Congo born, Belgium raised photographer and filmmaker now living in London. Her work explores the themes of intimacy, beauty and the construction of black femininity in the arts and media.
She has most recently been featured in Vogue Italia list of 20 female photographers to watch.
Selected publicatons & clients include: Harpers Bazaar UK, Elle UK, Marie-Claire US, Vogue Italia, Porter Magazine, Estée Lauder, Abercrombie & Fitch, Dr Martens.
35s & 45s:
Olivia’s work presented here is sentimental and romantic, a relationship between her heritage and her present journey in the creative fields. Vibrant colors accentuating the story of love and joy of the diasporic experiences.
Tell us a little about yourself? Where you’re from, where you’re based now?
Following the civil war in Congo my entire family and I moved to Belgium, I was about 8 years old and it was my first time in Europe and I haven't been back since. I ended up moving to London at 20 and saw so much of the world since but Kinshasa will always be home to me.
Tell us a little about yourself beyond the what/where and bio info?
I don't have a netflix account?
How long have you been shooting for?
I have been shooting consistently for the past 5 years, that's when I became really intentional about it and started testing and collaborating with other creative people etc...
How has your photography evolved since when you first started?
Tumblr had a huge influence on the type of images I wanted to create as a teenager, discovering Corinne Day’s work and life story was definitely a game changer and influenced so much of my style. She's created the most intimate work that felt very soft, for lack of better words. I have obviously grown as my own person since and found many other inspirations but I think I will always want my work to feel feminine, soft, intimate and real.
Did you buy your first camera or was it a gift? Who gifted?
A gift from my parents for christmas, a Sony Alpha DSLR-A330 to be exact.
Any specific moment stand out where you knew you wanted to pursue photography?
I was definitely that kid that was fascinated by MTV and watched a lot of music videos, I also religiously collected magazines and constantly looked at them and I think that's where my love for image making came from.
For a long time I didn’t think this could be a career path for me because I didn't grow up seeing anyone that looked like me or was from where I’m from doing it. Being brought up in a Congolese family didn't really encourage my sister and I to look at or make art. It took me a long time to realize that this could be an actual career path for me. Moving to London, enrolling in a non creative course and being in a more diverse environment gave me the confidence I needed to just go for it.
Does your environment influence you as a creative?
The people around me definitely do, I’m constantly inspired by the work my friends are doing, the conversation we have etc...
Do you take part in styling your shoots?
Not really, I'm pretty laid back when it comes to styling. The people I work with regularly generally know what I don't like (things that feel like a costume) other than that I’m always happy to let them do their job and take risks.
“..especially black women. I love the way we look, talk and exist in this world. It feels natural to create work that celebrates that.”
Is there a story being told behind your photographs?
The story constantly changes and evolves. Currently I'm really into romance and capturing people in love perhaps because that's what's missing in my life right now.
A Lot of your photography focuses on women, is that on purpose? Do you find comfort and freedom in shooting women?
They are the people I feel the most comfortable with, especially black women. I love the way we look, talk and exist in this world. It feels natural to create work that celebrates that.
What message do you want to share with the world using your art?
I will say showcasing black love and vulnerability has always been the driving force behind every story I want to tell. It’s always been a little tough growing up as a black kid and witnessing so much violence and traumas towards the people that look like me, both in Congo during the civil war but also while living up in Europe with racism.
Creating work that showcases a different reality is perhaps my way of protesting that.
Black people and love have always been my biggest inspiration so my work mainly focuses on celebrating just that, our love. I always feel the need to make personal work about black people in the most delicate and loving way so that I can share a different perhaps less upsetting perspective of our experiences as human beings.
What's one thing that you want to do with photography that you haven't done yet?
Definitely processing and hand printing my own images. As a self-taught image maker I’m absolutely aware that I have missed out on a lot of knowledge that I could have gotten from going to the right art school.
What is the most rewarding factor about photography?
The process is definitely my favourite part, especially with analogue. I love doing research, making mood boards, loading and unloading my film, I'm even starting to enjoy the wait because for a little while the images only exist in my head.
What are some changes you would like to see in the creativity industries?
I’m forever grateful to all the super talented black people that came before me and have paved the way for all of us to take up more space and be seen. I’m forever encouraged and inspired by that, I’m ready for us to be known (and remunerated) as the multi-dimensional creative we are.
You are all about analogue photography, what has been your favorite shoot done on film?
Right now, it's a fashion story I shot back in January for a magazine called the violet book. It’s inspired by my mother, I’m excited for her to see it.
On Set…
What camera would you want to be your last?
RB67 or RZ67 only because I’m a creature of habit.
Candid or posed? Flash or no flash? Why?
Posed because fashion and definitely natural light because I love things to feel soft.
What mood/vibe do you like to curate on set? And how do you do it?
My friends who I closely work with could tell you that I’m not allowed to select the music on the set because it always gets super sad. I like to play an insane amount of Frank Ocean and James Blake but also Aaliyah when we need a subtle energy pick up. Generally the vibe is always very mellow and intimate, thankfully there's always a lot of laughter too, which helps set the atmosphere and make everyone including my models feel at home.
During the selection process what makes the final cut? What details do you usually look for in the images..
I always share the images with people I trust because I tend to hate everything. My images always have to grow on me so I always give it a little bit of time. But generally I need to be able to see my subject through the images, I will hate for someone I photograph to feel like my images don't represent who they are.
Any upcoming projects we can expect from you?
Definitely more moving images.
When it comes to photography what moves you to shoot?
Vulnerability, Joy, beautiful clothes, interesting subjects and warm light.
Is there any particular element of shooting you would like to tackle or explore that you haven't?
I mentioned it earlier but processing and hand printing is my current obsession.
What would you like people to take away from your work?
I would like my work to make them feel something, ideally something positive. I want people to get a sense of my heritage, the colours that resonate with me, the movies I like and perhaps how sensitive I am.
Interview by 35s & 45s
04.27.21