This is an interview that I done with Chris Dobrowolski, about his artwork and my own. We finished by asking him ‘What would you do if you had a Stroke, and would you continue to make artwork?….
This was about six months after I have had my last treatment battling Leukemia. I am starting to get my strength back, my hair is growing back, but as my Mum said while she was watching the film, ‘you are still very weak’ …
I bet you are wondering, ‘What the hell is the Gallows all about’. Well, I will tell you…
I wanted to build a large piece of work for my Degree Show, ‘Spank’. Similar to my Rack, The Turn of the Screw…
The Turn of the Screw, 2013
I had the idea while I was in Hospital in February 2014. I was a complete wreck! I was still dealing with the Stroke side of things. If that is not enough, I found out a months earlier, that when the Hospital was scanning to find out where about the Stroke came from, they uncovered a large tumour the size of an orange. I felt my life was over, and I did not what to live anymore, hence the Gallows. All the work I done with my right hand, before my Stroke, was gone, in my opinion.
It was in August 2014, and I did a sketch of what I wanted to make. I texted Richard Berry, who is a Carpenter that I work for, for about the year. He really liked the idea, and he said he would be on board to the idea. In about two months later, it was finished.
I wanted the audience to be in shock when they walk into the room. A massive timber structure which is big, heavy and tall, like myself before I had my Stroke. The Gallows, is me.
The theory behind the piece of Artwork:
The platform, is my life’s Medical history.
* Starting from the beginning when I had Leukemia, my hormone deficiency that I got the Radiotherapy knocked out my male growth hormone.
* I had braces for seven years and in which they had to break my jaw, to re-assemble it.
* My Stroke.
* My Stomach removal.
The bird shit, is just that! The Shit, on my life.
Thanks to the NHS, Millions of pounds has been spent on myself, keeping me alive. I realised, I was meant to be alive!
You will notice in the centre of the Gallows, were you would go through, there is a double glazed unit. The only two jobs I have ever had, was working for Richard Berry (who I have to thank for helping me build the Gallows), and working for my Dad’s business, Kirton Windows (double glazing).
One side of the glass is reinforced, which I plan on Smashing, which represents my Stroke. On the other side, is toughened glass. If I did not have my Stroke, I would of never of found my tumour.
You will notice one of the planks on the end, is different from the rest. It is Oak. Stronger and stronger I get, with each battle that I face…
Q: Hey Alex, how you been? Looks like you’ve lost a lot of weight…
A: Yeah, lost five and and a half Stone, mate.
Q: How did you do it?
A: Well, a year ago I had a massive Stroke and while there were scanning to find out where my where it happened, they found a tumour the size of an orange in my lower oesophagus. The plan was to remove the lower oesophagus, and a little part of my Stomach. When I was in hospital, I was all excited to that I could see the the tumour that has been living inside of me. I asks the Doctor if I could keep it. But when I wen’t under, there was a problem. The tumour has spread through out my Stomach. The whole Stomach had to be removed.
Q: Oh…
