Conceptual nominee

Are Friends Electric is a farcical exploration into the rise of mental health issues in society with the emphasis on measures taken to treat mental health problems and in particular E.C.T.
My work often targets societies role and the way we live our lives with the intention of prevention of mental illness rather than cure. This series farcically asks the question, do we take responsibility for our own mental health by changing the way we live our lives, or do we self-medicate when mental illness takes control.
Electroconvulsive therapy, or ECT for short, is a treatment that involves sending an electric current through your brain, causing a brief surge of electrical activity within your brain (also known as a seizure). The aim of the treatment is to relieve the symptoms of some mental health problems. The use of ECT as a treatment for depression by the year 2000 had almost died out completely, but there is now a resurgence in its use despite mixed medical opinions of its effectiveness.
ECT is back in fashion.

It was whilst studying photography at the University of Wolverhampton in the UK that Gary found his passion for conceptual photography. His work draws on personal experience and his natural inquisitiveness in human behavior.
He constructs (often building sets in his studio) a series of work from a concept, or he will see images in everyday life that speaks volumes to him. Whichever method of construction he uses, he intends the images to be multi-layered and engage the viewer thoughtfully and aesthetically. His work is vibrant, beautiful and seductive, with a vein of humor that runs through its body, just as life should be, yet life is not always a bed of roses and Gary’s work often breaks down the façade to reveal…