Jessica Gillies

Sertaline, Modafinil, Senna and a Coupla Jonnies Pal

(2020) (Video Installation, 6ft x 2ft)

This work exhibited in 'Cry and Laugh' in Glasgow Websters Theatre (former Lansdowne Parish Church) on 25th January 2020. Being in and out of relationships since I was 15, I adapted an emotional reliance on a partner to give me what I was avoiding to create for my self. The dimensions of this are of a telephone box; an abandoned communication portal I continuously salute as they represent the fragility and vulnerability of life. The titles of my work always act as a joke with a jab kinda coping mechanism.

Cheerio Lizzy, Thank You Alan

(2021) (Digital illustration)

The son of a civil servant, Alan Mathison Turing at the same age I am now (24) produced “On Computable Numbers” in 1936. He was a pioneer in the field of computer science; made several contributions to artificial intelligence and was awarded an OBE for his code-breaking work in WW2. Turing was also gay, and was treated appallingly as a result. In 1952 he was convicted of gross indecency for his relationship with a man. As an alternative to prison he was prescribed two years of ‘hormone therapy’. He died at the age of 41, this was recorded as a suicide. 59 years after his death he received royal pardon for the conviction. On 25th March it was announced that Turing will feature next on the £50 note.

EDI to GLA

A page taken from my sketchbook.

Talking Bollocks Mate

Collage

Ornate Silver Spoon, Wooden Chip Shop Fork

Part of series - POEMS IN ISOLATION, 2020

Thoughts I’m having during isolation; rediscovering the forgotten words in my 2018 notebook; reflecting on past experiences; reminiscing about a taken for graduated freedom; chippy lunches replaced video calls; words I’ve constructed whilst trying to sleep on my mum’s couch during a pandemic.