The dark knights of Bologne. Kevin Félicianne for Lampoon digital stage three black models in memory of Joseph Bologne. A violinist called the black Mozart, a musician symbol of a community
Joseph Bologne known as the black Mozart
Title: The dark knights of Bologne
«This is a story I wanted to create with three black models in memory of Joseph Bologne who was called the black Mozart, a talented black musician born in 1745». Photographer Kevin Félicianne shares his inspiration for his Lampoon digital’s editorial.
As a black photographer originally from the French west indies, Guadeloupe, Kevin Félicianne cares about the representation of black people and his community. Within this editorial Kevin Félicianne wants to showcase black struggles against prejudice. He wants to show that black people are not only talented through rap or hip hop music, but also in classical music.
Who was Joseph Boulogne Chevalier de Saint-George? The black Mozart symbol of the black community
Joseph Boulogne Chevalier de Saint-George was a virtuoso violinist whose talents shined despite slavery laws and racism in Parisian society during the late 1700s. He became during modern time a symbol of black community struggles. Named Chevalier de Saint Georges under the reign of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, Bologne is one of the first known classical music composers of African descent. He created operas, symphonies, sonatas, and more.
Though he spent the first seven years of his life on one of his father’s plantations in the Caribbean, Joseph and Anne were relocated to France by Georges; there he matriculated into the Académie royale polytechnique des armes et de l’équitation, where he excelled at fencing and horseback riding. Among experts, he was considered to be among the finest swordsmen in all of Europe, only suffering one defeat in a serious fencing match throughout his career. Though French law did not permit him to inherit his father’s social status, he was accorded the formal title of Le Chevalier de Saint-Georges — as well as his membership in the Gendarmes de la Garde du Roi, France’s Royal Guard — as a result of his equestrian success.
A virtuoso on the violin, Joseph Bologne and the symbol of a community
Joseph received a courtly music education while in France, though its specific details have been lost to the historical record. As a student, his talent and skill on the harpsichord and violin earned him dedications from influential composers like Antonio Lolli, who composed two concerti for him. A virtuoso on the violin, Bologne was regarded as one of the most sought-after musicians in prerevolutionary Paris, and subsequently became concertmaster and conductor of Le Concert des Amateurs, a company known for organizing popular concert series around France.
Kevin Félicianne
Kevin Félicianne is a fashion photographer who grew up in Guadeloupe. During his bachelor years, he discovered photography. He started at a young age with portrait and fashion photography. Félicianne likes capturing images that would make his audience want to discover more about fashion. He travels often outside Paris with his favorite camera as he loves shooting outdoors for natural light and beautiful landscapes that he likes using. He has contributed to publications such as NATAAL, HOTHOTHOT, UNPRINT, PORT MAGAZINE, and LAMPOON.
Lara Cviklinski
Lara Cviklinski is a Paris-based stylist. After completing her studies in art at Atelier de Sèvres and in fashion design, Lara turned to styling. She has collaborated with photographers such as Arthur Elgort, Ellen Von Unwerth, Jean-Baptiste Mondino, to name a few. Her work has been featured in publications. She works in editorial as well as film commercials, with brands and she worked styling celebrities such as Isabelle Adjani, Jean Dujardin, Adèle Exarchopoulos, Monica Bellucci.
Photography Kevin Félicianne and styling Lara Cviklinski
Photography & AD: Kevin Félicianne
Styling: Lara Cviklinski
Makeup: Nafik B.
Casting Direction: Barbara Blanchard
Models : Diacaria @ Elite Paris, Mouhamed Amine Ka @ Elite Paris, Malaha Camara @ The Claw Paris
Editorial Team
