John and Stephanie Lind (Work in progress)
Video
Ca 40 min
2025
Filming completed: June (editing process July-October 2025)
I’ve researched the life of John Lind (aka LIND/?Lind? 1877-1940), Sweden’s most forgotten female impersonator (drag queen) and his Russian-French wife Stephanie Lind nee Klein (1882-1973) who was his dresser, manager, and no 1 fan. Stephanie grew up in present day Ukraine.
John Lind grew up in Karlskrona, Sweden, and performed on stages around the world, such as Moulin Rouge in Paris and Hammersteins Theater in New York. His career started in Sweden but after age 20, he performed very seldom in his native country.
He created variety stage acts which included dancing (ballet and dances from different nations), singing, impersonations of celebrities – all which included costumes chosen by him and made by fashion houses in cities like Paris.
Lind did quick changes between female and male roles. His wife Stephanie helped him get into the gowns and corsets, as well as worked as his impressario.
Lind built his female acts on passing as a woman, and it created a sense of wonder and mystery around his actual gender.
The artwork John and Stephanie Lind shows the collaboration between John and Stephanie in a two channel video work. The actor Corrado Di Lorenzo plays John and I play the role of Stephanie, as they prepare and show six of Linds acts on a stage.
One side of the work shows how the couple interact backstage during the costume changes. The other side shows Di Lorenzo performing as Lind, in reimagined dance and singing acts. Simultaneously, we see Stephanie’s reaction as she watches her husband perform from the wings, and how she prepares for the upcoming costume change.
Corrado Di Lorenzo (b. 1989, Italy) is an artist currently based between Malmö and Rome. He began his career as a ballet dancer, performing with various companies across Europe, before transitioning into contemporary dance and the broader field of performing arts. Today, he works primarily as an actor, both on stage and on screen.
Supported with a project grant from:
The Swedish Art Grants Committee
Developed at: Inter Arts Center, Malmö and Danscentrum Syd, Malmö
Edited at: Inter Arts Center, Malmö and Notam, Oslo
Thank you:
Malmö Opera
Blekinge Läns Museum, Karlskrona
Images curtesy of Blekinge Museum, Karlskrona, Sweden
Millennium Star – John Lind Story Hour
Video ca 15 min
2025
In the video Millennium Star – John Lind Story Hour, I read selected excerpts from John Lind’s memoirs, while in the role of my drag Millennium Star. The stories show both amusing confusions and threatening situations based on which gender people perceived that Lind belonged to.
Millennium is styled to look like a kind of great grandchild of Lind, wearing a costume which includes his characteristic question mark-symbol.
The backgrounds consist of details from John Lind’s actual costumes.
John Linds costumes and props:
Sylvia
Made after combining two photos of Lind performing his Dance of the Dove act. The silver color was chosen from his description of himself as dancing «a silver ballerina».
The Rainbow
I imagined what a costume for the act «The Rainbow» could have looked like and took inspiration from his existing costumes.
Courtesan (La Belle Otéro)
The inspiration is taken from photos of Lind and of persons he imitated, like the courtesan Carolina «La Belle» Otéro.
Parts of the costumes were borrowed from Malmö Opera, and modified:
Tarantella Siciliana
A folksy outfit from Malmö opera, with Lind-esque details added to it, like the glittery shapes on the bodice, green ribbons and the seemingly random huge bow on the side.
The Blue Pierrot
Hat, pants and poofs made by me, and added to a Pierrot robe from Malmö opera.
Sailor Boy
An outfit from Malmö opera, and a privately owned sailor hat with a custom made LIND-ribbon added to it.
Under garment and props:
