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An exhibition of photos by Lucia Griggi
by Howard Swanwick
20/09/2007:// Lucia Griggi has an enviable life. One of a small handful of women in the world to have broken through the male dominated ranks of surf photographers, and the only one in the UK whose work regularly appears in the top surf mags as well as the fashion press, she divides her time between homes in Cornwall and Venice and travelling the world on photo assignments.
Still in her twenties, this exhibition is Lucia’s first in the UK. A regular on the surf circuit for the last seven years, she admits that ‘surfing has inspired me to photograph. I love the people and the ocean.’ This exhibition brings these two aspects together in a series of studies which capture different facets of the surfing lifestyle. As well as exotic, Bounty-ad perfect locations like Sri Lanka and the Maldives, Lucia features less obvious surf locations like Alaska. However, her studies of idyllic surf spots also show the harsher social realities of destinations such as Morocco.
Lucia’s work frequently appears internationally in magazines such as Carve, Surfgirl, Wavelength and Cooler magazine, and her advertising industry clients have included Rip Curl, Headworx, Sri Lankan Airlines, Calvin Klein, Rimmel and Davidoff to name but a few.
A regular official snapper on the WQS and UK Pro Surf Tours, this year she has photographed surfers at the O’Neill Highland Open in Thurso, Ripcurl Pro Santander World Tour event in Spain, and the Sri Lankan Airline Pro in the Maldives, as well as, nearer to home in Cornwall, the Ripcurl Boardmasters and K-Festival.
Lucia met Geoff Swallow, Director of the secretspot-stives gallery through an assignment for Surfgirl magazine, in which Lucia travelled with the British surf squad to Tagazhout, Morocco, in February last year. ‘I took one look at the photos,’ says Geoff, whose daughter Tassy was among the surfers on the trip ‘and I just knew that we had to give Lucia an exhibition. As well as a great photographer, she’s a fantastic role model for women, breaking through in not just one, but two male dominated industries – surfing and photography.’
As well as the photographs on display, the exhibition will also feature Lucia’s images laminated onto surfboards, furniture, such as coffee tables, and even deckchairs! ‘I’m working with a company called Print Environment, which specialises in large scale printing onto a wide range of different surfaces,’ Lucia explains. ‘For a start all the canvases are environmentally friendly they are made from eco friendly fabric made from recycled polyester yarn and printed using water based inks. The possibilities are endless and will make people see the images themselves in a new way.’
The surfboards are being made by Lucia’s shaper Chris Harris Designs (CHD), her new quiver of boards will be on display throughout the tour with her images laminated into the boards design. At the exhibition you can learn about how top UK surf board shaper, Chris Harris completes this process from start to finish.
Also unique to the exhibition, artist Teresa Manning has painted a selection of Lucia’s shots. Self taught artist Teresa has been inspired by Lucia’s photographs and decided to look out her paints, she commented, ‘The strength and depth of her photo’s has helped me to produce some of my best work yet. A union of photographer and artist I hope we can continue.” The artwork will be a feature throughout the tour.
During the exhibition in St Ives, Lucia will also be running a series of three day residential workshop aimed specifically at women interested in a career in photography. ‘They will be very practical, technical workshops reflecting my interests in location, surf action and portrait photography, ranging from choice and use of equipment through to how to manage clients on assignment,’ says Lucia. Numbers are limited to a maximum of 6 per course, and cost £250 per person. A small number of non residential places will be available. All enquiries should be made through the gallery’s website www.secretspot-stives.com.
‘We are stoked to be working with Lucia on this exhibition,’ says Geoff Swallow, ‘and thank the sponsors, The Print Environment, Errant Travel, and Sri Lankan Airlines for their help in making it happen.’
The exhibition ‘SurfLife’ runs from 21st September to the 11th November at the secretspot-stives gallery in St Ives, Cornwall, before transferring to London, France and Spain. The exhibition is open Wednesdays to Sundays, 10am to 4pm.
Secretspot-stives gallery is at The Old Sunday School, off the bottom of Bedford Road, St Ives, behind the Church. Please note there is no parking at the venue. Nearest parking is Barnoon or Malakoff car parks.
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