Tommy Tommy Tommy
Ischia, Italy – 2024
Archival Pigment Print
“I have enormous admiration for Anthony Minghella, the British writer and director who the world lost far too early in 2008. His attention to detail in movies such as The English Patient and The Talented Mr Ripley was palpable, as was his passion for personal location scouting. He was much loved by almost all those he encountered in his work, however fleeting that encounter may have been. He was just 54 when he passed.”
I travelled to Ischia and Procida in the Gulf of Naples, largely to pay homage to him and visit some of those cult locations from The Talented Mr Ripley. The beach scene at Bagno Antonio in Ischia, where Matt Damon’s Tom Ripley first deliberately encounters Dickie and Marge, was wonderfully crafted and it was so refreshing to hear from locals that the cast immersed themselves into the culture of one of the world’s most timeless of places.
After filming for three weeks in the area, I thought we had the resources to play a small parody on that specific beach scene. The visually arresting Castello Aragonese is, of course, still there, as are the owners of the beach club with whom Minghella collaborated. They could not have been more accommodating to our crew and I guess it brought back some fond memories for them. It’s not often you go to a beach bar and see faded personal pictures of Jude Law, Matt Damon, Gwyneth Paltrow and most of all, perhaps, Anthony Minghella glued to the wall. Ischia is a special island with a unique domestic vibe and when we left, we did so comforted by the knowledge that we would return as soon as possible; it is that good.
“I am a teller of stories, a weaver of dreams. I can dance, sing, and in the right weather I can stand on my head. I know seven words of Latin, I have a little magic, and a trick or two. I know the proper way to meet a dragon, I can fight dirty but not fair, I once swallowed thirty oysters in a minute. I am not domestic, I am a luxury, and in that sense, necessary.” – Anthony Minghella”- David Yarrow
Available sizes
Large: Edition of 12 + 3 AP
- Image Size: 56” x 93” in (142.2 cm x 236.2 cm)
- Framed Image: 71” x 108” in (180.3 cm x 274.3 cm)
Standard: Edition of 12 + 3 AP
- Image Size: 37” x 62” in (93.98 cm x 157.5 cm)
- Framed Image: 52” x 77” in (132.1 cm x 195.6 cm)
We ship worldwide and use a multitude of providers to safely deliver your masterpiece. Domestic delivery and installation may also be available via Hilton Asmus Contemporary’s private art shuttle. Please inquire.
La Dolce Vita
Positano, Italy – 2024
Archival Pigment Print
Positano – the poster child of Italy’s Amalfi Coast – is best viewed from the sea. It is only from the water that its spectacular cliff hanging location is visually showcased and there is a palpable and most necessary sense of place.
This is the Italy that is loved across the world: for the pleasures and indulgences; its effortless style and its traditional values. We live in a beautiful world and the Amalfi coast reminds us of the need to retain that state of mind as firmly as any coastal region on the planet. It has a unique and visceral allure that can run very deep into the sensibilities of travellers and locals alike. The coastal communities can cast a spell and visitors extend stays, whilst locals seemingly never leave. There is generational continuity down here from fishermen to taxi drivers. It is difficult to conceive of a book being written about strong local communities across the world and Neapolitans being excluded.
When I was scouting in the bay off Positano in the spring, I was struck by the beauty of the light just before sunset. The view looking west to town is always intoxicating, but when the sun disappears behind the mountains, it darkens quickly and a new mood descends on the community. House lights come on and, rather like mobile phones at a Coldplay concert, their random formations add a new layer to the canvas.
My research suggested that there was a 15-minute window in the evening when there was just enough light to shoot from the sea, but it was dark enough for the town to be a “sky full of stars”. Shooting from a boat is never easy, but at twilight it is a particularly low percentage practice as the camera is working at the edge of its capabilities. The trick was to shoot over more than one night and wait for a calm ocean. Cameras have also become immeasurably more capable in low light, so the cameraman has more opportunity.
I recognise that one photograph cannot bottle up and fully embody the sensory overload evoked by Italy, but for those that connect with La Dolce Vita at its most indulgent level, this may not be far off their Italian ideal. It’s a dreamy photograph and that was always the intent.
I want to thank Kelsey Merritt who took time out of the Paris shows to work with me that day. She played the role of the quintessential Italian beauty with grace, confidence and intelligence.
Available sizes
Large: Edition of 12 + 3 AP
- Image Size: 56” x 79” in (142.2 cm x 200.66 cm)
- Framed Image: 71” x 94” in (180.3 cm x 238.76 cm)
Standard: Edition of 12 + 3 AP
- Image Size: 37” x 52” in (93.98 cm x 132.08 cm)
- Framed Image: 52” x 67” in (132.1 cm x 170.18 cm)
We ship worldwide and use a multitude of providers to safely deliver your masterpiece. Domestic delivery and installation may also be available via Hilton Asmus Contemporary’s private art shuttle. Please inquire.