Issue 84 / Dec 2017/Jan 2018

Raised in South Wales and now based in Berlin, Katy Lane has carved a niche
for herself as a photographer with an eye for drama in otherwise mundane
situations. Her candid work documents the lives of her closest friends and
family in a journal style of photography that is intimate and warm, inviting you
to peek behind the curtain, uncovering sides you don’t often get to see. That Lane’s close
friends and family are among the most intriguing, iconic musicians alive – Lane is married
to Brian Jonestown Massacre leader Anton Newcombe – makes her series of portraits
resonate with that bit more of a frisson.
The autobiographical work of Lane’s journals details her experiences collaborating
with and living around the various members of The Brian Jonestown Massacre, and the
assorted musicians who gravitate to her husband’s studio in Berlin: among them the
Canadian musician Rishi Dhir, of the band Elephant Stone, and Italian singer, actor and
director Asia Argento. Vocalist and frequent collaborator with Newcombe, Tess Parks,
has become a close friend of Lane’s as a result, leading to a remarkably personal and
moving set of images that have found their way into Lane’s burgeoning portfolio.
With her new book of Polaroids, Someplace Else Unknown, set for release in the
new year, Lane will be exhibiting a collection of her pictures for the first time in the UK
at Bold Street Coffee during December. We caught up with her in advance to try and
uncover some of the insight that goes into her art.
The Brian Jonestown Massacre
Why do you use film?
To put it simply, I just prefer it! I started off using an Olympus film point-and-shoot when
I was about 14, before switching to digital when I was a little older. I then used both
when I was in art school, figuring out how to use a Canon AE-1 and develop my own
photos in the darkroom. I did use my digital Canon on the first BJM tour I went on, but I
soon realised my film photos far surpassed anything I’d shot with my digital. It’s made
me a better photographer in my opinion – you learn to make every frame count.
What made you decide to use
photography as a way of documenting
your experiences?
I always wanted to pursue a career in
art of some kind, before really getting
interested in photography as a young
teenager, and coercing my friends into
being my subjects for various projects.
Then I left art school, fell in love with
a musician and went straight into
touring and travelling, so I continued
to photograph my life and the lives of
everyone around me. I’m surrounded by
creativity in my day to day life, so I feel
it’s important to freeze these moments in
time. It has always seemed natural to me,
in the same way as keeping a journal.
“I’m surrounded
by creativity in my
day to day life, so I
feel it’s important
to freeze these
moments in time”
Rishi Dhir
How does your approach change between working on specific projects and
photographing for pleasure?
I would say my approach doesn’t change at all. I don’t like to stage photos, and want
them to be as natural as possible, even when the subject knows I’m taking pictures of
them, I just adapt to my surroundings.
Do you feel it’s better to have a close relationship with the person you are
photographing?
I would say yes because the person feels comfortable with you, and will let their guard
down, which is especially important for me because I love candid shots. For instance,
my friend Tess is one of my favourite people to take pictures of, and because we know
each other so well, we work great together. Again, I take so many photos of my husband
because I get to see a side of him everyone else doesn’t get to see. Mostly everything I’ve
done up until this point has been documentary, but I am pushing myself to do more with
people I don’t know. I don’t want to get too comfortable myself, and it’s so important to
have new experiences with new people.
Photography allows you to see the world through another’s eye. What do you want to
show viewers about your world and how you experience it?
This is quite a tricky question for me to answer, because when I take photos I don’t
specifically set out to show them to anyone in particular. I’m quite a private person so
I’m constantly struggling with how much I let people into my world, so to speak – I share
very little. I have just finished my first zine though, which, in a way, is like a holiday family
album. It has definitely inspired me to make more, and I already have an idea of the next
one mapped out. !
Words: Jess Greenall / @jessrg1995
Photography: Katy Lane / misskatylane.com
Tess Parks
Someplace Else Unknown opens at Bold Street Coffee on 1st December and runs until
January. There will also be a launch party for the exhibition on the evening of 18th
December, featuring DJ sets from Bido Lito! and Carl Combover.
SOMEPLACE
ELSE UNKNOWN
Bold Street Coffee hosts the first UK showing of photographer KATY LANE’s new collection of intimate
portraits, offering a candid look at the lives of The Brian Jonestown Massacre and their collaborators.
22