107 Rhondda Street

As an artist with Schzioaffective disorder I lived and worked in Swansea for a couple of years, the photographs you'll see captures the highs and lows of that time. Although doing nothing to combat the booze and fags stereotypes of individuals living within the welfare system it help the reader understand what it can be like, there were other residents at the address, they have their own story. This is mine.

Social isolation and a lack of basic comforts such as a warm safe environment is not  the only thing I lacked at that address, the local community often complained that we were living and situated next to a shop it seemed as though everyone was talking about us in the house, A frequent source of irritation to myself but the others were oblivious and carried on in their lives. I felt out of place and my mental health soon suffered.

After a while I began to find my feet and settle in, bedsit life has been the starting point for many in life and some have thrived and gone on to achieve greatness, this vain, useless hope kept me alive.

The area had once featured in Swansea's most famous film Twin Town which was the Linga Fraca  of the cool in the area, if coolness visited it often found me sleeping.

So I branched out and moved into a different medium and started making my 

 own films, above is a full dress rehearsal for one.

but I did use more up to date equipment than this.

Respite from Rhondda Street

 

Experimenting with images

My own slasher.

A place where police and the residents met

Waiting for a call to go out.

A view through a nearby pub.

Happy Shopper Vinegar and the smell of cold chips.

The mental health clinic and a chance for a new lease of life.