Kim Lang | The Dancer

The son of a Luxembourgish woman and Cape Verdean man, Kim Lang was born and raised in Luxembourg until the age of 20. Growing up travelling with his mother and grandfather, a documentary filmmaker, between Namibia, South Africa, and the US, shaped his interest in culture, journalism and history.

After breaking up his studies twice, first in Egyptology and History of Art at the University of Trier, then in Communication Design at the Institute of Design Berlin, Lang moved to London at the age of 20 to pursue his studies in Photography at the University of the Arts London. Since his graduation, Lang has been working in the fields of fashion and portraiture for independent and high end commercial publications.

Lang’s images often carry a documentary and historic element, that supports his approach towards theatrical portraiture. Bold, energetic and with a touch of intimacy, the photographs focus on capturing personality, individuality and identity through a storytelling lens.

Lang’s series ‘The Dancer’  focuses on the celebration of dance. In collaboration with dancehall dancer Ramario Chevoy and hair stylist Zateesha Barbour, the trio joined forces to create a celebration of culture. 

This series cross references beyond just dance, merging influences of more historically traditional ways of hair and body-paint applications with the modern ways of digital documentation. The colours; dark and mysterious, are in opposition to the clean bright backdrop and the roughly applied, paintwork which creates a striking contrast against Chevoy’s skin. 

This juxtaposition creates a vibrant body of work that can be seen as both joyful and enigmatic. A conscious decision, challenging how traditional dance practices often have been portrayed as alienated otherness. 

The body of work is a celebration of heritage. The make-up and hair inspired, by historically afro-centric beauty traditions, emphasises the spiritual and ritualistic qualities of dance. Much like the art of dancehall itself, which often can be seen as a way of taking control over self-representation, this series celebrates these ties between heritage, past, and future.

The fluid and joyful movements, the colours are bold and graphic and the digital medium adds a pristine quality to it. 

Photography: Kim Lang

Muse: Ramario Chevoy 

Hair: Zateesha Barbour

Make-Up: Polly Mann

Styling: Bo Dubé 

Jewellery: Lucky Little Blighters

Kim Lang is currently based in London. Visit his website or check out his Instagram for more sensational work!