Stephen Sidney

Biography

Stephen’s work focuses on the relationship with digital, scientific, and medical data to address challenging subjects such as conflict, death, and division. The works are intended to challenge our disassociation with conflict and oppression. He grew up internationally as a result of his parent's profession in counter-terrrorism/human trafficking. The most influential country was Indonesia where he lived in a heavily guarded compound with armed security. His on-going series ‘X-Ray Crisis’ utilises the lens of the X-Ray to humanise those caught in the crossfire of contemporary conflicts. Individuals whose lives and humanity is seldom recognised, more commonly regarded as statistics rather than a human being. The X-Ray reminds us that despite our external and political differences we are underneath all the same, mortal and human. As a prosthesis that enhances the human vision, the X-Ray grants the ability to penetrate matter. It provides a different viewpoint that allows for a greater dissecting “medical gaze” or an all seeing surveillant eye. The X-Ray as a lens also has the potential to be both an effective humaniser and an equaliser. The X-Ray depicts an individual’s biology, emphasising their mortality and fragility. Additionally, by removing identity you are also removing any potentially divisive barriers such as, gender, race, attractiveness etc allowing any viewer to be able to relate, empathise with or even perpetuate themselves onto the subject in the art. What has changed with X-Ray technology over the last century is its use in surveillance. As contemporary subject matter the X-Ray aesthetic innately raises questions regarding politics, independence, and the states relationship with our freedoms. The series ‘X-Ray Crisis’ hopes to make a difference to the respective issues addressed. All political works donate a portion of profits to charity. After having been digitally exhibited in Tate Britain the series won top 25 and top 5 in the Prospect 100 global art and design competition, judged by notable figures such as Daniel Arsham, Millinsky and the Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine. These works were sold at auction to raise funds to aid Ukrainian refugees. The latest work in the series ‘Militant Minds x Mind Charity’ worked with record labels and music producers to raise awareness for youth mental health and suicide. Raising funds for Mind charity as well as providing exposure for emerging producers and musicians. The latter half of his practice is film which similarly uses radiographic technology as a medium to discuss metaphysics, primarily the similarities of functionality occurring in our bodies on a micro scale to the universe on a macroscale and how religion and spiritualism co-exists with certain theorems.

Art