Benefit Cuts: Domino Effects, Stages 1, 2 and 3.

Mixed Media Collage

Theme: Social Justice 

Creative Process:

The three-staged approach of Benefit Cuts: Domino Effects 1, 2 and 3, captures the detrimental effects of my son's Employment & Support Allowance (ESA) being 'disallowed', and logs the timeline and journey towards the successful Appeal outcome. I used the actual text from the Works & Pensions paperwork, images of dominoes in specific positions, and the image of death to highlight the national issue of 90 people a month dying as a result of having their ESA benefit cut. The background acrylic colours for each piece depict bloodshed and fade from dark to light in the process of battling towards the successful Appeal. 

The medium of mixed media collage lends itself really well to develop a visual vocabulary for describing and translating my experiences; the personal and political works particularly well in this medium. Collage is both a process and a medium in which I can most naturally and effectively give voice to that creative tension.