Destiny has deemed it fitting for the Canary Islands to once again play a significant part in the life of photographer Sergio Lardiez (Madrid, 1984), who has relocated from the Peninsula to the Archipelago, specifically to Tenerife. It was within the Canary Islands that, “as per the most commonly shared account in my family,” he reveals, “I first engaged with photography by picking up a camera when I was three or four years old and tossing it straight to the ground at Jameos del Agua, in Lanzarote.”
Over time, as he learned how to operate the camera, Lardiez began establishing his reputation nationally within the industry, known for his black and white portraits of some of the most celebrated performers from the latest generation of Spanish actors, such as Barbara Lennie, Alex Garcia, Ursula Corbero, Victoria Luengo, and Maggie Civantos.
His works have been featured in leading national publications like Harper’s Bazaar, GQ, Esquire, S Fashion, InStyle, and Vanity after embarking on a path in 2018 aimed at exploring the artistic dimensions of photography and its capacity as an agent of change.
The artists Nicole Pérez-Yarza and Alejandro Carstens share a tender embrace in an image captured by Lardiez. / Sergio Lardiez
That same year, he unveiled the exhibition Free in collaboration with the NGO Save a Girl Save a Generation, raising funds to combat female genital mutilation and forced marriages. He also serves as a programme trainer About for the Spanish Agency for International Cooperation at the Conservatory of Arts in Bamako, where he teaches photography workshops for young emerging artists in Mali.
Another Canary
Since 2023, he has made his home in Tenerife to embark on a new path in his professional journey, where he plans to inaugurate Temple at the start of 2025, a venue dedicated to photography and various cultural initiatives.
“Truthfully, I had never envisaged making a living from photography,” admits Lardiez. “However, after I began conducting sessions with models and actresses simply to master lighting techniques, I realised that those moments of connection, beauty, and shared creativity were what I desired to experience every day of my life. So, I committed to this path, and now 12 years have passed.”
Close-up of Maggie Civantos, renowned for her roles in series like ‘Vis a vis’ and ‘Cable Girls’. / Sergio Lardiez
“As my principal reference, Peter Lindbergh stated, ‘Beauty is the courage to be yourself,’” Lardiez reflects on his inspirations, also citing Ruth Bernhard, Francesca Woodman, Graciela Iturbide, and Isabel Muñoz.
In Pursuit of Beauty
“The catalyst and motivation I require to photograph is invariably beauty, in whichever form and expression it arises. In landscapes,” Sergio elaborates, “it is the light, while in a person, it is always their character.”
Portrait of acclaimed actress Úrsula Corbero, originally from Catalonia, by Sergio Lardiez. / Sergio Lardiez
Through the use of filters and edits, this professional expresses that for him, “the most crucial aspect of my work is that my photographs remain authentic and do not depart from my principles, as we bear a responsibility towards the message we are conveying to society. Unrealistic, hollow, and unattainable standards of beauty only breed unhappiness and mental health issues.”
“I believe that my connection with the ocean, nature, and the slower pace away from city life allows me to feel more attuned to myself and fosters a slower, more mindful existence,” he concludes, explaining his motivation for relocating to the Canary Islands.
