Gab Gabbois, Montreal based photographer, digital manipulator and all round creative specializes in work which can be called uncomfortable diy. It’s a self-explanatory term we have coined. But don’t allow the amateur connotations of ‘diy’ to put you off. On the contrary, Gab Gabbois displays a mercurial eye for detail in her visually compelling and sometimes humorous images. It’s her use of ‘everyday objects’ like rubber gloves, through to processed cheese that encompasses that ‘diy’ quality.
Significantly her body also becomes a conduit for creativity. Gab Gabbois subsequently teeters into that #itchysilk domain where an image can (to those who are more sensitive) be difficult to view yet difficult to ignore.
Ultimately Gab Gabbois’ images are a visual commentary on the 21st century from a young creative mind.
Montreal-how did the creative scene affect a young Gabbois?
Montreal is definitely full of talented people. It sometimes gets hard to follow what everyone is doing because there’s so much going on all the time. That being said, it’s very encouraging to see all the creativity around you moving really fast and taking many different forms.
In terms of your formative years what impact did those formative years have on your creative journey?
They had a huge impact. These years really shaped my creative mind and taught me the base of many techniques that I still use a lot in my everyday life.
I think the things I find interesting others may call awkward.
Can you remember the first image you took? What was it about, the time you took it and emotionally how did it make you feel?
It was a little over a year ago. I did a series about textures. The idea came to me in the middle of a French grammar class and I just got up and went home to start on the idea. I always feel a kind or urge when it comes to shooting concepts. I get bored very easily and I’m scared I’m going to lose interest if I don’t get it out of my system fast enough.
Some may call some of your art ‘uncomfortable’-is that fair?
When I was starting to find my style, I couldn’t see what people were talking about when they said that some of my pictures made them uncomfortable. I think the things I find interesting others may call awkward. That’s a big part of what my work’s about.
Instagram is your playground………how important has it been in increasing your fan base?
It hasn’t been at all. I guess Instagram’s algorithm worked in my favour somehow because I never put hashtags or tag people in my posts, somehow followers just kept coming and I’m happy about it in the way that it means more people are interested in my work.
Talk us through your techniques in creating your art?
I’m all about DIY and learning from failures. I like to make the accessories I use in my pictures from stuff I already have at home. I always try to work with what I know so that my work translates something more personal.
And let’s talk about Gab Gabbois as the subject in her work-why do you employ that as a technique?
It’s mostly for practical purpose. I can work by myself at any hour of the day. I like not having to rely on anyone when I work. But if things don’t work the way I expected them to, I have no one to blame but myself.
Do you have any series of work you are working on or indeed coming up?
I’m a little all over the place right now, between working full-time and planning for trips. I’m trying to stay on top of everything but I don’t have as much time to work on creative stuff as I’d like to. One of my main goals for the next few months is to make more time and give more attention to my creative side, so you can expect to see more of me in the future!