The Fish That Never Swam

‘The Fish That Never Swam’ investigates the reasons behind the ‘Glasgow Effect’, whilst exploring my own connection to the city. The work is based on the latest research, that found local and central government policies responsible for the lower levels of life expectancy found across the city.

The Fish That Never Swam is a documentary project, investigating the reasons behind the ‘Glasgow Effect’, whilst exploring my own roots and connection to the city. The Glasgow Effect is the term given to the disparity in general health and life expectancy across the city, by comparison to UK averages. Lifestyle choices are commonly seen as the reason for this - around 7 years reduction in life expectancy for men and 4 years less for women.

This work is based on the latest research, published last year by NHS Scotland and The Glasgow Centre for Population Health. This document found Glasgow City Council’s failed housing policies created a vulnerability within the city. When the Thatcher government escalated the decline in industry generations were exposed to deprivation.

I wish to tell the true story of the people of my city and expose the injustice imposed by local and central government. The report concludes with the advice ‘to mitigate against the effects of future vulnerabilities linked to current UK government policy’.

It is important to me to be considered part of this community, that I am commenting on, and not seen as an outsider. I use my own experience of growing up in Glasgow to give the work context and to put myself in the picture. I am conscious that I have two viewpoints - the objective view of someone that no longer lives there, whilst at the same time the personal and emotional incite of a person that has a deep connection to this place, and is in many ways, a product of this city.

‘We shall not cease from exploration, and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time’. T. S. Eliot

This work will be published as a photo book. The work is presented in book format on two levels, separated by the folds of the page. The work I am currently making is the main body of the book, my past experience, as written in my sketchbook is concealed in a hidden layer. I am aware that I need help to decipher which elements of the work, are most relevant to the story, for this I have sought out a writer to collaborate with. Tom Seymour will be writing a journalistic text to accompany the photographs.

This is a long form documentary project in the early stages of the work. All images have been taken since June, 2017.