In mid-July 2024 I was travelling around Spain to take a break from an intense period of work and to gather energy before coming back to London to continue working on my first exhibition. While stopping off for lunch for only an hour in the town of Sant Feliu de Guíxols in the north-eastern region, my car was broken into and amongst the things stolen were my bag, camera, lenses and laptop.
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Of course, I have tailored freelance insurance to cover me in such incidents, but the insurers are attempting to use a clause where they won’t pay out the claim if there was no physical damage done to the car. The thieves were precise and calculated. They accessed the car via intercepting my keys signal when locking the car. This is a method that the local police told me has happened a lot recently and only requires a small and cheap tool easily available online but can only affect certain car models. Unfortunately the car I was hiring was one of those.
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Due to this my case isn’t looking promising. This experience has caused a great deal of unnecessary harm and stress to me and those I was with. Times are currently extremely difficult for many of us and those around us. Suffering is strife and even during my last days of being in Spain I witnessed 2 robberies over the course of a few hours.
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Now, I’m never one to ask for help as I have an issue with the act of asking and being publicly vulnerable. A trait unfortunately found amongst many people, especially men. With this in mind, I wish to attempt to break that habit and connect and communicate with those I love and respect. So I ask for help in a time of need but only if you can afford it. There is obviously no obligation. But if you can, then what I offer as an exchange of goodwill and financial support is one of the things that represent me and my work best - photographic prints.
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I’ve been working on my first exhibition which would have hopefully been completed towards the latter half of the year. This project would follow the documentation of family in Mauritius, the UK and France, covering the themes of personal history, liminality, migration, religion, community, natural & built environments and food/scarcity. One part of the project explores the Japanese concept of ‘Ikigai’ that, “...encourages people to discover what truly matters to them and to live a life filled with purpose and joy.”, I used my aunty as a frame into how one can sustain themselves past their “working” lives aka retirement, and how’s there’s more valuable things in life than earning money. Via this I was shown a model and method of facilitation on how climate change and food education is being fought for and taught on the roofs of Paris via children, retirees and refugees.
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But due to the current circumstances I cannot work and the exhibition will have to be delayed. And so, I would like to offer people the chance to help and purchase a print to help support me getting back on my feet. Again, there is no obligation whatsoever. The amount people can commit is based on a sliding scale, so you pay what you can, if anything. I will also donate 5% of the total amount to a charity supporting the Palestinian and Sudanese causes as a small offering as a way of giving back. I will announce which charities at a later date once chosen.
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The equipment that would be replaced are:
- MacBook Pro
- Canon R5
- Canon EOS 24-70mm + 50mm Lenses
- Camera Bag
If reached, anything beyond the aim would go towards exhibition costs later in the year. These would include printing and framing costs, as well as organising a dinner to bring the tastes of the images to life.
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As I soon enter my 30s, I refuse to let this become an incident that holds me back, but rather a poignant moment that propels me into a decisive period of my life where communication with friends, family and the wider community becomes a catalyst for growth within my practice as an artist, photographer and friend.
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Finally, I thank you deeply for taking the time to read this, alongside those who have been supporting me over the past couple of weeks since the incident. I hope you’re all keeping well and looking after those around you, including yourselves. I will aim to share details of this journey over the coming months as and when I can, alongside the progress towards my exhibition and any further projects. And please feel free to reach out in person if you have any questions, tips or advice.
Sending Love,
Gan