Where the weeds grow(2023), Posca Pen on 59.4 x 84.1cm
‘Where the Weeds Grow’ is not only a celebration of the tenacity of the working class but also a condemnation of class inequality. The tower block is covered in the same flammable cladding that resulted in the fire at Grenfell Towers. Despite being over 5 years since this incident, none of the flammable cladding has been removed from these tower blocks around the country, where mostly working class and lower income people live.
This kind of wilful neglect to the safety, wellbeing and needs of the working class is something that is prevalent in our society. Whether it be in accessing health and mental health care, unfair allocation of funding to schools and generally subpar services. Despite this context to the image, I still wanted to create an image that was beautiful to represent the innocence of children raised in these, often dangerous, spaces. Through a child’s gaze dandelions and roses are both just flowers.
Her Room (2022) , Posca Pen on 59.4 x 84.1 cm paper
I created this self portrait at a strange time in my life. Everything around me seemed to be falling apart, I was struggling financially, my mental health was in tatters and my life seemed to be taking a turn in an unfamiliar direction. At the same time as I felt like I was on the brink of insanity and collapse, I was putting on airs and pretending that everything was fine. The tower block through the window represents my worst fears of being trapped in a cycle of poverty, never able to enjoy life like a normal, happy person.
‘Callow drive’ (2022), posca pen on 14.8 x 21 cm paper
The flat where my father used to live and I would visit on weekends. It was known locally as Murder Corner after 3 murders took place there within one year.
‘job centre plus'(2022), posca pen on 14.8 x 21 cm paper
‘Broken swing'(2022), posca pen on 14.8 x 21 cm paper
Something that I’ve noticed is how broken things in low income areas stay broken. I saw this broken swing and something and I felt like it spoke for itself on class inequality and the impact it has on children growing up.