Petrina Hicks grew up in Sydney and studied communications in Canberra before undertaking further study in photography. Since 2003, she has made series of photographs of individuals that strain the definition of portraiture, finding, it has been said, 'beauty in perceived imperfections and render[ing] idealised beauty strange.' Commissioned to portray Layne Beachley, Hicks said that she chose to make a stark representation of the champion as she 'wanted her eyes to be the central focus . . . I realised these were where all her strength is revealed.' During the shoot in Hicks's Bondi apartment, Beachley spoke about her encounters with various marine creatures, observing that 'whales look you right in the eye, but sharks stare straight through you'.
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