Lu Deverall
Lu Deverall (she/her) is a queer multidisciplinary artist based in Eora and Berlin. Her practice draws on the twin states of choice and compulsion, intimacy and distance, comfort and unease. By dismantling the space between photographer and subject, and emphasising connection, Lucys work offers an intimate vision of female, queer identity. Pairing these encounters with constructed still life imagery, the sensuality of the viewer’s own perception comes to the fore, where the subconscious is invited to colour the experience. Her work is a nod of the head towards fluidity.
Hey Lu! Could you tell me a bit about yourself?
Thank you for having me! My name is Lu, and I am a photographer from Eora, now living and working in Berlin. Over the past few years I have been building my photography practice around soft encounters, warm conversation and a little bit of magic. Oh, and I’m a Pisces!
A little get to know you, what is your favourite song and book right now?
Bluets by Maggie Nelson is cemented in my heart as my favourite book, and I am currently listening to Orion Sun on repeat.
In five words, could you describe the essence of your photography pieces?
Intuitive, celebratory, queer, intimate, poetic
Tell us how you got into photography, and what has inspired you to go in this direction with your work.
Photography has always been a part of my life in some way. Having uncles who worked in documentary photography and filmmaking, I was exposed to interesting imagery from a young age. Growing up in rural NSW, there was not so much access to the arts, but these windows into another world, brought home on postcards or darkroom prints, really lit up my imagination. There are a few images from my childhood that have really stuck with me, and looking back, have really influenced my style.
With this rich tapestry of imagery in my mind, when I started taking photographs myself at 19, things really fell into place. I had found a cheap Olympus om-10 at a market stall, and started shooting that day. The first rolls were pretty similar to what I am still shooting now, and the direction of my work has been a natural progression of gaining confidence and reflecting back what I am in awe of or attracted to.
@dj_trancegender - Shiri
@carlazimbler - Carla with Flower
You have such a range of subject matter - from serene landscapes and gorgeous still lifes’ to deeply intimate portraiture of friends. What would you say is your favourite subject matter to work with? And, what themes do you pursue and explore through this?
My images bounce between subject matter quite fluidly, but I would say taking portraits gives me access to the most amount of inspiration and joy. People are so fascinating to me. How they look, move, dress, hold themselves and mostly what they think has been the reason, and sometimes even the excuse, to take photos.
Intimacy, desire and sex are themes that I am constantly circling. I make sure to have some time surrounding the act of taking photos so it can be filled with conversation, collaboration and exploring ideas together. Vulnerability is something that I like to bring into my imagery, so it is important I share as much of myself as possible. Through this, queerness has also emerged as a central theme to my work. Exploring identity with friends, lovers, and partners over the years has resulted in a soft language where queerness is allowed to exist in many forms/frames.
Who or what has continued to inspire you most as an artist over the years?
Looking at the work of other photographers has always been where I go to find inspiration. I revisit the work of photographers I look up to (like Molly Matalon, Diana Lawson, Laura Letinsky, Tracey Moffatt, Caroline Tompkins…) I would say weekly. Having a large bank of imagery in your subconscious is really helpful when you’re in the act of making, and especially when you’re selecting frames that work.
What has been your greatest accomplishment? (can be photography related or not!)
When I was 11 I played drums in an all girl band called Bliss, and Courtney Love played our song on her Myspace page for a week.
Working / living in Berlin must be such a culture shift from Sydney. How has your time in Berlin influenced your artmaking? And, what is the photography / art scene like over there?
Moving to Berlin has been completely liberating for my creative process. I am aware of how special (and temporary) it is to feel anonymity within a city, and am really soaking in having space to let my ideas breath. The city has an amazing creative scene and the talent pool is extensive. I love heading over to C/O gallery every few months to check out their new photography exhibition, or to look at photo books at Do You Read Me. Sydney is still so much in my heart, and the creatives that I look up to there are absolutely killing. It’s nice for now to be between two spaces and see what arises.
Tell me your favourite camera to work with, and why?
My go to camera is my RZ67 medium formate camera. I love how hefty it is, and how it really makes you slow down for the right shot.
How do you personally manage the work / life / passion balance, and make sure you find time to create? And, what is the biggest obstacle you currently face as an artist?
There isn’t really a day that goes by that I am not surrounded by imagery in some way. I made a conscious effort to get myself into a position so that these divisions are blurred and can flow easily into one another. After studying photography, I did a diploma in graphic design so my options could expand. In my current position as a designer, I am working with and curating images everyday which in turn inspires me to make work of my own.
In saying that, the biggest obstacle I currently face as an artist is confidence. I find it hard sometimes to put myself out there, but am finding ways to heal and continue to make meaning through my practice.
What has been your favourite project to work on?
I worked on a series called You And Nick Caves Black, Black Hair, which examined relationship anarchy. Through this series I used photography as a vehicle to press into an idea that I was curious about. Although the series was quite naive, the process helped me realise my practice in the framework of poetic-documentary. Working around a central theme and extracting motifs, stories and experiences from conversations and research, gave me structure to my process that I continue to use today.
What are your plans with photography for the future? Any upcoming projects you’d like to share?
I am currently working on a body of work with a tentative title ‘Milk Teeth’ that I would love to make into a small run publication. It’s a very slow series about finding connections in a new place.
