Axel Gill

Lives and works in London, UK

Artist statement

I create art in order to discuss several topics, these being: incorrectly run UK psychiatric facilities; false stigmas surrounding mental health and LGBTQ+ rights. Through my teen years, I spent many months in psych wards that ended up getting shut down and left me with lasting effects, I’ve found the best way for me to heal is through my painting and bringing up the topics in order to begin conversation to inform people of how many UK facilities are run incorrectly and consistently damaging youth. I do this through utilising the genre of Magical Realism, to cause the viewer to question a seemingly fictional displayed reality that actually mirrors a specific part of our actuality. I found this art genre to truly solidify my intents as an artist, after discovering it during my dissertation at University on the parallels between restrictive Eating Disorders and the ‘Zombie’ genre. Through intertwining fictional elements with our reality, I’m advocating for a change, linking my artwork to my personal interests of the macabre and gothic visuals, and representing both queerness and disabilities. As I myself am queer, my work is also queer as a result, and through recurring inspired imagery of zombies and Frankenstein, disabilities are represented through their ties to physical and mental disabilities. Being an artist with autism, ADHD, osteoporosis and various other mental health conditions, it’s imperative to me that my work brings those topics to light in a dramatic manner as...

Artwork