Spikes 2013 - 2015 These photograms / organic stains were inspired by the escalating number of homeless people in Brighton. The number of rough sleepers rose steadily between 2009 and 2012, and their presence was visible to anyone walking through the city.
It is difficult to engage with an individual when you feel you have nothing to say that might help. So, like many others, I looked at the ground and noticed flowers and plants pushing through the crust of the pavement. There, I found a glimmer of optimism.
Even the most fragile life can grow and thrive in a hostile environment if given even the smallest amount of sunshine. I made photograms / organic stains using plants pressed onto large-format film. After a week, I shone a little blue light onto them before developing and scanning the negatives.
I sometimes question why I made these images. Surely, it would have been more beneficial to spend the time and money helping those who had fallen on hard times. However, it is imperative that we reflect on the times in which we live. Without such reflection, there would be no record and no accountability.
