Gareth Phillips
The Abysm
The Abysm is a body of work exploring mental health and loneliness. Originally conceived as a book, I began a collaboration with my father exploring the emotions of regret and inertia following the collapse of his business in 1980s post-industrial Wales. Unable to fulfil the role of financial provider and protector of our family, my father slowly retreated into himself during this period of unemployment. For thirty years the fear of failure and the guilt of patriarchal inaction manifested itself into clinical depression. It was upon the recent diagnosis of a life-threatening disease that repressed emotions overflowed and my father suffered a mental breakdown. The initial documentary approach evolved into more than thirty photobook maquettes, installations and sculptures, that draw on the symbolism of the surrounding natural environment and focus on his domestic routines and viewpoints. This exhibition will present a selection of the photobook maquettes alongside a bespoke wall hung installation.
Gareth Phillips (Gal-les, United Kingdom)
Gareth Phillips is a photographer who explores contemporary definitions of the photolibre, creating them as objects, sculptures and installations.
He has an established track record of international exhibitions and awards, and was a finalist for the Aesthetica Arte Prize 2023, the KG+ Kyotographie Japan Award, the Gomma New Flavours Award and winner of the RAKFAF Festival Award for Sculpture 2023.
His work is part of the permanent collections of the Gabriela Cendoya-Bergareche, San Telmo Library, the National Museum of Wales, the Luovake Library and the W. Van Alan Clark Library. Van Alan Clark Library.
He is an associate lecturer at the University of Arts London and the University of South Wales, and a member of the board of the Reflections Masterclass. He lives between the UK and Spain.
