LENS 2015: Philip Jones Griffiths

On Saturday 7 November LENS 2015 will take place at The National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth. An essential photography festival that no-one with an interest in photography should miss, which will focus this year on Philip Jones Griffiths and his work.

From its early days as an event promoting the Library’s visual collections, LENS has grown and developed over the past decade to become a recognised discussion forum for professionals and amateurs alike. It also provides opportunities to enjoy presentations from some of the photographic greats.

Amongst the speakers at the festival will be Martin Woollacott, former foreign correspondent, foreign editor and commentator on international affairs for the Guardian; Jason Walford Davies presenting poems responding to the photographer’s work; George Petry who will be discussing his PhD research on Philip Jones Griffiths and photographer Marian Delyth chairing a Q&A session in the company of Katherine Holden, the daughter of Philip Jones Griffiths. To conclude the festival William Troughton, National Library of Wales Curator of Photography will present a gallery talk of the exhibition.

Griffiths, who died in 2008, is best-known for his photographs of civilian casualties and suffering during the war in Vietnam.  He published a book of those images in 1971, ‘Vietnam Inc.’, which helped turn public opinion against the war.

Philip Jones Griffiths – A Welsh Focus on War and Peace exhibition features photography and slides from the book as well as both earlier and later work.  For the first time, many of Griffiths’ cameras, personal papers and artefacts are displayed alongside his photographs.

William Troughton, who has curated the exhibition, which is being held jointly by the Philip Jones Griffiths Foundation and the National Library, said:

“Philip Jones Griffiths didn’t consider himself a traditional war photographer.  He was interested in showing the effects and injustices of war on ordinary people - his book ‘Vietnam Inc.’ had a major impact and is considered a classic.

“Griffiths was meticulous in his preparation and this exhibition will offer new insights into his work.  It also celebrates a remarkable career that saw Griffiths visit over 100 different countries.”

Further Information

Elin-Hâf 01970 632471 or post@llgc.org.uk

Philip Jones Griffiths - A Welsh focus on War and Peace continues at the Gregynog Gallery, The National Library of Wales until Saturday 12th December 2015.
Monday - Saturday (9.30 a.m. - 5.00 p.m.)