Vietnam photographer’s iconic pictures ‘should be on display for the nation’
ONE of the world’s most famous photographers whose work is credited with altering the course of the Vietnam War should have a permanent exhibition of his work on display in Wales, campaigners say.
Philip Jones Griffiths’ images have been “ignored by the Welsh artistic establishment”, his family claim 10 years after he left his works to the nation.
Mr Griffiths from Rhuddlan, Denbighshire, dedicated most of his adult life to cataloging the horrors of the Vietnam War.
In 2008, when Mr Griffiths died, he wanted to leave his collection to the Welsh nation, hoping it would be housed in a dedicated centre to his works.
But that has not happened, and the archive is kept at the National Library of Wales in Aberystwyth.
In 2015 the Library hosted Philip Jones Griffiths: A Welsh Focus on War and Peace – an exhibition celebrating the life and work of Mr Griffiths, comprising over 600 artefacts, photographs, books and magazines.
Coun Marc Jones, from Wrexham, knew Mr Jones Griffiths. He said more needs to be done to raise awareness of the collection and allow the public to view it easily.
Mr Jones, a former editor of the Welsh magazine Golwg, told the Daily Post: “While Philip Jones Griffiths was alive, I campaigned with him for his work to have a permanent site here in north Wales.
“That was what he wanted and the commercial value of the photographs would – in his view – have made any such centre sustainable. These are major works of art by a world-renowned artist who grew up in Wales and remained immensely proud of being Welsh.
“We should do all we can to ensure they are on show permanently so that everyone can enjoy and reflect on the photographs and the way they help us to interpret our history and our world.
“His photographs of the brutality of war in Vietnam, in particular, are credited with altering the course of that war.
“It saddens me that this man’s talent is not recognised by the Welsh artistic establishment and that more has not been done to ensure a dedicated centre to his work. It’s well deserved and overdue.”
Mr Jones Griffith’s daughters Katherine Holden and Fenella Ferrato, who are the trustees of his works, said: “It also saddens us that the ‘Welsh artistic establishment’ haven’t done more to ensure there is a centre in Wales dedicated to Philip’s work.
“With the help of Dafydd Wigley, and even the late Rhodri Morgan, we had many meetings over the last 10 years to try and achieve this in north Wales. Unfortunately these discussions have so far been unfruitful.
“We are however, very comforted by the fact that Philip’s life’s work is in the National Library of Wales and is accessible to the public.
“Philip wanted his work to inspire the children of Wales for generations to come; to make them realise that you can pick up a camera and help stop a war. A dedicated centre with a permanent exhibition space is something the trustees would very much like to see happen and it is hard to believe that no space in Wales can be found for this purpose.
A spokesman for the National Library said: “There has been considerable interest in the archive and much use made of it.
“At present we are exploring possible venues in Wales for the exhibition to tour, including Haverfordwest and Wrexham.
“We are grateful to the Philip Jones Griffiths Foundation Trustees for entrusting the safekeeping of this hugely important collection to The National Library of Wales.”