10 Questions with Photographer | Gabby Laurent | ISSUE #232

Through interviews with individuals who pursue photographic expression from unique perspectives, we explore the origins of their creativity, the ideas that shape their work, and their creative processes — delivering fresh inspiration to photographers and photo media around the world.

This time, we speak with UK-based photographer Gabby Laurent. By documenting and preserving the origins of her creative practice, as well as the philosophies and perspectives she values, we hope to help support and carry forward photographic culture in the years to come.

Through these “10 Questions,” we take a closer look at the process behind her work and the journey through which her expression takes shape.

I was always interested in photography- I remember I used to rework family albums as a child, I loved pictures and what they represented. I still think family albums are the best books. In fact I still work with my family within my artwork - I'm currently I'm working on a project titled, 'You Used To Be Connected'.. one of the main pictures is the belly button of my son.

I think the most important element is the duality of humour and tragedy, safety and comfort- these contradictions run throughout my practice in the themes and also the materials I use.

I think the inception of ideas is quite intuitive, you can make yourself open to the ideas but it’s hard to force something.

It might be a material or theme that I start to work with, but then it becomes more thoughtful and cerebral as I expand on the piece.

Ideas- I have ideas that I want to see made and I think the drive is to see them completed.

This is a piece from a new series, it's the belly button of my son with text overlayed in the darkroom.

I chose it because it is both personal but also has a meaning that is more universal. speaking to the maternal connection but also that we used to be more connected to ourselves.

It depends in what context. To me, photography and ai are different mediums, although I totally appreciate one can mimic the other. AI doesn't have the human hand of art so it doesn't speak to me in that way.

I think my own community is the one that influences me. My kids, partner, friends. The women that surround me are incredibly significant

There's so many- work coming from Cal Arts in the 70's, Performance art in 60s 70's South Korea, Feminist art globally in the 60's and 70's. I'm working on a project with the V&A Museum where we are looking back at a movement from the UK called Feministo.

This is such beautiful and difficult question. I would hope to persue clarity, to most efficiently and clearly express myself through my work. But this will never come to a conclusion. Apart from death, that's definitely a conclusion.

From a letter Sol Lewitt wrote to Eva Hesse:

Just stop thinking, worrying, looking over your shoulder wondering, doubting, fearing, hurting, hoping for some easy way out, struggling, grasping, confusing, itchin, scratching, mumbling, bumbling, grumbling, humbling, stumbling, numbling, rumbling, gambling, tumbling, scumbling, scrambling, hitching, hatching, bitching, moaning, groaning, honing, boning, horse-shitting, hair-splitting, nit-picking, piss-trickling, nose sticking, ass-gouging, eyeball-poking, finger-pointing, alleyway- sneaking, long waiting, small stepping, evil-eyeing, back-scratching, searching, perching, besmirching, grinding, grinding, grinding away at yourself. Stop it and just DO!