By Alexia Melocchi
I have always been a great believer of the power of the creative and visual arts as a medium for creating inspiration, healing, connection and a vision of the potential of human beings, and in my work as a movie producer I have had the honor and pleasure to have great encounters with incredibly talented artists from all over the world. This month, I sit down with Gisele Lubsen, an internationally renowned conceptual underwater photographer whose dynamic art pieces are showcased in some of the finest hotels in the world, in celebrity homes and in visually stunning brand campaigns such as Aquamarine and Bebe.
Gisele and I had the opportunity to work together while I was making a documentary called “QUEST FOR BEAUTY”, which I was an executive producer on. The documentary slogan was “Inner Beauty will Save the World” and Gisele kindly helped raise awareness of the documentary’s message at a fundraising event we had, where she showcased her art pieces for auction. The month of February is associated with the celebration of being in love and this gave spark to a wonderful conversation between us, to discuss Gisele’s spiritual and artistic path and on being in love with ourselves.
Gisele, what inspired you to become an artist and using water for your photography art pieces?
I became a conceptual underwater photographer while I was doing my MFA at Otis School of Art & Design in Los Angeles in the Spring of 2006. For the final MFA show I invited 8 of my girlfriends to come and take the plunge in a swimming pool with me, wearing their day to day outfits. I had rented an old school but fabulous camera named Nikonos and thought it would be so great to celebrate the female form, the goddess in every woman, taking shape underwater. Truthfully, I had no idea what I was doing, but the portraits of these eight women turned out incredible. They were exhibited one next to the other on a long wall in the schools’ gallery and looked surreal. One could not immediately detect if these were underwater portraits or actual painting but when up close a bubble in a nose or ear and pale skin revealed that they were from the nature’s element of water. These women showed such strength in overcoming their own nature. Overcoming not being able to breathe and pushing themselves into a calm and limitless state made making them gloriously victorious. I had witnessed underwater their strength and bravery as if they had let go of their weaknesses and insecurities. I called the series Undercover Goddesses and that’s truly what these women were. It was that day that I found my calling.
I love the Undercover Goddesses name! It seems that every one of your art pieces portrays women in a total act of surrender. I am curious though what makes a Dutch girl have such affinity with water?
Though I was born in Holland and lived there until the age of 12, I then moved to the French side in Switzerland near Lausanne where I went to school until the age of 18. During my entire life however I spend most of my childhood in Greece and Cyprus since my mother was excavating there (she is an archaeologist) and would always take me with her. I could always be found swimming underwater in the Mediterranean Sea. Around 7 my parents build a house on a beautiful Cycladic little island named Paros and that’s where my heart is. I’m a complete island girl and the water was where I felt most comfortable and free to be myself. In other words, having lived in so many different places, water is truly my home. Even though I have worked and lived for the past 15 years in Los Angeles I still spend about 5 months out of the year in Greece and mostly in water.
I can completely relate to that. Water is my element also. In fact, I get most of my best creative and spiritual ideas when in the shower, with the water washing over me! How and when did you discover the effects that this type of photography was having with your clients? Was it by chance? And what type of emotions did the feeling of being underwater came through in the pictures?
I realized that each time I was working with a client under water, the person would completely change after the photo shoot. They were elated, ecstatic and so much more empowered after taking the plunge. Water truly has healing qualities and being immersed in it we can truly express whoever we want to be with no limits or boundaries. What is vital during my photographic process is that my team and I don’t use air. Which means that the person we photograph including myself and my assistants all come up for air. During that time, I can give feedback to my model and she to me. A binary relationship of trust is then created. We each exist one because of the other and within this true connection we can each bring out the best in each other. I always encourage each person in positive ways so they forget about doubt or fear and so that they have no more limitations. I’ve witnessed magic and true bravery throughout this process which is \extremely moving and magical. I’m truly proud of every person I’ve ever photographed and I hope that this is reflected in my work.
Well, it is not a coincidence that your work is showcased is some of the most exclusive and luxurious resorts around the world. Every single piece of your art has me looking for water to jump into! There is a timelessness to it. What do you think drew the great interest for this type of art?
The reason why the underwater photographs function so well in commercial spaces and lobbies is due to their unique and surreal nature. Water brings an element of tranquillity and zen to any interior including a wonderful clash between an urban space and nature.
They function as an anchor point for avant- garde art and culture, expressing the exclusivity of a lobby and building. The emotional response I often hear from establishments such as The Four Seasons in Dubai is that these pieces make people dream and feel excited. They bring a positive & ethereal character to any interior trendsetting any building into a cutting edge innovative space.
I also create custom art pieces and video installations for commercial projects incorporating the theme and concept of the branding design into each unique building. The goal is to create a powerful experience of moving beauty & design for anyone entering the locatio
I want to talk to you know about one of my favourite art pieces of yours. Tell me a bit about the idea of filming the horse underwater and what was the process like connecting with such majestic animal.
A few years ago, I directed and produced an amazing project named Amazons where I interpreted mythological scenes representing female warriors of Ancient Greece. During the three-week underwater production on Paros, Greece I had casted 14 incredible actors and dancers to interpret these Amazon archetypes and many of them were always accompanied with their horse. The symbol of the horse is that of strength, grace and loyalty. One morning
as we were about to shoot a scene in the Mediterranean Sea I spotted a horse going into the water. I could hardly believe it but it turned out that the horse was named Dolores and her owner, a wonderful yogi master would go swimming together each morning on that beach. I asked if we could photograph her and she ended up becoming Hippolyta’s, the Queen of the Amazons.
Speaking of Goddesses, I know your photography is
often used as spiritual experience and healing workshop. Tell me a bit about the process -what does it entail?
Each person, male or female experiences goes through such powerful transformative and feel good qualities after an underwater production, therefore I’ve started organizing smaller underwater sessions accessible to all during a fun experience all day event. I coach each person through a breathing energy circle before taking the plunge and often we have a wonderful guest speaker who will talk about healing and feminine empowerment. Each person who takes the plunge will identify with her or his inner god bringing out their strength and true nature. I love doing these sessions because I witness so much diverse beauty and connect with so many different people who all have an amazing story to share.
Have you ever been photographed underwater yourself? If so what did you want to experience?
Yes I have! Some of my assistants have photographed me underwater and it’s fun to be on the other side of the camera to appreciate the challenges each model I photograph goes through again. It’s a humbling experience that makes me a better director.
Having photographed celebrities and contributed to major advertising campaign, you are an in -demand artist and I also know You are a self -made woman. What are the challenges of being an artist, and a mother, while keeping a business expanding and growing?
When I told everyone 13 years ago that I was going to become a full time conceptual underwater photographer most of them told me I was crazy. With lots of hard work and never giving up, I’ve been able to travel the world doing underwater productions and exhibitions, while meeting all sorts of interesting people who have all touched my life one way or another. The goal is always the same; that of creating a timeless image that within 50 years from now
will still touch and move. The challenge is to make sure that any production does not just become an underwater dress up party but that inner beauty is revealed through vulnerability both by my model and myself as a director. Sometimes putting yourself out there is scary but it always pays off in the end since the world can relate to you that way and therefore connect. Now that I have a two year old boy, I simply don’t have all the time to create art and that can be challenging sometimes however I take him on set all the time, he loves water too, and I have a great nanny so I do believe that as a mother we can have a fulfilling career and a balanced family life. It’s all about time management in the end. I also want Noah to be proud of me and see that we do not have to sacrifice what makes us happy once you have children.
Who do you identify with as a Goddess if you would have lived on Mount Olympus?
I actually identify with many qualities of goddesses but I would say Aphrodite for her love and Artemis for her nurturing qualities. I love people and I love caring for them.
Your work exudes beauty and so does your spirit. What is beauty to you?
The definition of beauty to me is if it moves me. If it brings tears to my eyes and if my heart beats faster. For me most things combined with water become lyrical and dreamlike revealing their timeless and ethereal quality which I love. Beauty to me is a feeling of total satisfaction yet still the
desire and longing for more.
I agree. Beauty has a different energy wavelength that appeals not only to the physical eye but to our hearts. I always felt that art translates that creating a very interesting and intimate connection between the artist and the observer. In fact, I have seen your work associated and displayed with several causes that truly celebrate the spirit of survivors from life’s greatest tragedies. What charities do you support?
I love philanthropic work and believe especially as artists that we need to try and help wherever we can. Face Forward is one of the many charities I support. They help women, children and men heal after domestic violence and provide restorative surgery. I’ve created an underwater production for them photographing some of the incredible survivors and celebrities who took the plunge with my team and I to help spread the message. I think you have interviewed one of those survivors in your documentary, right? The Stop Cancer Foundation is dear to my heart too.
Yes we did ! In closing, what would you like your son to know about himself as you raise him?
I would like him to know that to be different and independent is a virtue. That nothing is achieved without respect for others and that embracing the beautiful process of life is even more important than the final result. Believe in yourself, be independent and know that with hard work and the love for human relationships you can achieve anything your heart desires.
There was so much more that I could cover about this incredible art form and the woman who has made a name for herself doing it. In the words of Bruce Lee, if we focused on letting the many sides of us naturally co- exist, like water does with matter, I believe we would find that moment in time where every inch of us is elated for being alive and we marvel at our own personal power, and in that instant, we would fall in love with ourselves. “You must be shapeless, formless, like water. When you pour water in a cup, it becomes the cup. When you pour water in a bottle, it becomes the bottle. When you pour water in a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Water can drip and it can crash. Become like water my friend”.
To find out more about Gisele, her art and her conceptual underwater photography work, please go to:
www.giselelubsen.com.
Follow her on Instagram at @galunderwaterphotography.
