In 1997, Lorenzo Agius sat with British comedian Eddie Izzard and told him he’d like to photograph him crying. Eddie wasn’t too keen, but Lorenzo wanted to capture a different, vulnerable side to the man known for making people laugh.
They talked, Eddie let his guard down, and a conversation on a particular subject led to genuine tears – as well as a remarkable portrait that the comedian loved so much, he hung it up in his own home.
“Being in that position is the greatest honour,” says Lorenzo. “It doesn’t always happen but when it does, it’s beautiful.”
During one of his visits to Malta this summer, while in the throes of preparing for his first ever exhibition opening on 12th September at Spazju Kreattiv, I sat down with Lorenzo to learn about his connection to Malta and moments that have defined his colourful career – from the early years photographing the cast of Trainspotting and cultural icons of the 1990s to the crème of music and cinema.
‘I’m a great believer nothing is by accident’
As an art and art history student at the University of East Anglia, Lorenzo was drawn to a whole gamut of creative disciplines but developed a greater passion for photography, eventually moving to London aged 18 where he started assisting photographers. His introduction to the professional side of it saw him experiment with still life and landscape photography – but they weren’t the right fit.
“I missed that connection to people, which I’ve always loved, so I decided to do fashion photography which led me to portrait photography,” says Lorenzo. “I didn’t know it would go the way it did, I don’t think anyone does – you pursue this thing that you love and it becomes a passion that drives you.”
He claims his fortunes are partly ‘right place right time’ luck, “but I’m a great believer that nothing is by accident. Serendipitous moments are part of your history, even if you haven’t lived that history. In that sense I’ve accomplished a lot of the goals I’ve set out to accomplish.”
In his late 20s, while working for an independent film company, Lorenzo was tasked with creating the film poster for Trainspotting – a film that became a cult classic and helped define ‘90s British cinema.
“The best part about this job was, because the actors and the director were up-and-coming and the film was made by an independent company, I was free to get creative. Together with an art director, we created shots inspired by moments in the film, like Ewan McGregor appearing soaking wet. Why is he wet? The lack of context created curiosity,” says Lorenzo.
The goal was to capture each character’s personality – “which is, essentially, portraiture” – and the film’s success put Lorenzo on the map leading to jobs for Vogue, Vanity fair and a permanent display of six portraits at the National Portrait Gallery in London.
Photos that tell stories
The photographers of decades past, spanning from the 1920s to the ‘50s, have inspired Lorenzo for their ability to capture singular moments. “When you look back on pictures of say, Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, politicians or film stars, there are pictures that stand out, and that’s what I endeavour to do,” says Lorenzo – and what he has done all along.
Such are the portraits of David Beckham, Ralph Fiennes and Kate Winslet which hang in the National Portrait Gallery. They were taken between 1996 and 1998, when all of their careers were taking off, including Lorenzo’s.
“Kate’s was taken at the very start of her journey, which is what makes it so special. David was in his 20s – he was becoming the star that he is and it was always about his hair style. The shot at the Gallery, with his hair covering his face, is very reminiscent of that time,” says Lorenzo. “I know it worked as a shot because they sell that postcard at the Gallery – and it’s the top seller.”
From the scores of famous personalities Lorenzo has had the opportunity to shoot, he singles out working with Jack Nicholson as the most entertaining – and one of the few times he felt star struck. “Jack is a larger-than-life character and I’ve watched every film he’s ever made, so you become a bit of a fan of the person and the actor,” he says. “The shoot was meant to last half an hour and went on for five.”
“Shooting Diana Ross, Madonna, Tom Cruise, Bill Nighy and Hugh Jackman – they give you their souls. There was a great connection, and that’s what it’s about. If you can get a great connection you’re going to get great pictures.”
Returning to his roots
Despite his Maltese lineage – Lorenzo’s parents were Maltese and emigrated to the UK before he was born – the photographer says that he didn’t feel a strong connection to the island. His first visit was with his father aged 14, where he met relatives and visited places connected to his ancestry, but only began feeling a stronger urge to return after his father’s passing.
“I kept thinking about Malta more and more, so when curator Charlene Vella presented the idea to me of an exhibition here, it felt like a wonderful opportunity to connect in a real way. Malta has a great history of artists coming back – I’d like to think of myself coming back and bringing what I’ve done elsewhere to Malta.”
The retrospective exhibition will display up to 100 large prints across four themed spaces that delve into Lorenzo’s style and his cool Britannia era, his work with legendary names in entertainment, as well as a space with a dedicated AV set-up that offers insight into the person behind the camera. “It gathers the whole spectrum of emotions, and offers something that I believe everyone can relate to.”
Visit the exhibition at Spazju Kreattiv which will run for six weeks from 12th September.
Lorenzo Agius photographed on location at Corinthia Palace by Elisa Von Brockdorff. All other photos taken by Lorenzo Agius.
