Damien, 2015

This photo is bursting with graphic forms and lively colours, and the model’s posture radiates a sense of pride. The pink background contrasts with the yellow on Damien’s cheek. Aesthetically, this photo resembles a fashion shoot, much like you can find in a fashion magazine. Yet the photographer Namsa Leuba actually works in the space between multiple genres: inspired by fashion photography, she combines this form with documentary practices and performance art. In het series NGL, an abbreviation of Next Generation Lagos, she explores Nigeria’s innovative and creative youth culture. The Nigerian capital of Lagos, with its bustling chaos and resolute energy, served as Leuba’s inspiration for this series. To create NGL, she collaborated with local fashion designers and models to translate the city’s vitality into a visual explosion of clothing, props and accessories. The resulting images, such as this portrait of Damien, present a complex, dynamic and contemporary reflection of Lagos, a city that proudly proclaims its own identity.