ANTHONY FRIEDKIN – THE SURFING ESSAY
2018-11-26Friedkin is a native of Southern California and a life long surfer who views the combination of surfing and photographing as a natural evolution of two activities vital to his existence. The Surfing Essay goes far beyond photographs of surfers surfing, it explores the daily life, the lifestyle and the spiritual life of the photographer and his comrades. The stereotyped blonde and bronzed teen at sunset is not to be found in The Surfing Essay as Friedkin shares the reality of the culture. The surfers are seen partying, sharing drugs, having sex and living their lives, often with unexpected grit and recklessness.
Captured on black and white film and hand printed by the artist are many images of waves that Friedkin views as integral to the exhibition. The photographs interpret the power and velocity of the waves through Friedkin’s lens and darkroom. Some of the waves are peaceful while others are fierce, often hypnotizing. The artist describes photographing, surfing and being surrounded by waves as a spiritual experience, like witnessing the birth and death of a great being within seconds of each other.
Opposite – Clockwork Malibu, Rick Dano on the Highway, Malibu, California, 1977
Exhibition runs through to December 21st, 2018
Daniel Cooney Fine Art
508 – 526 West 26th Street
New York
10001 NY
