Congratulations to Gabriella Wyke for placing as the 1st Place Winner in the 6th Edition!

Who are you?

My name is Gabriella Wyke and I am a 26-year-old freelance photographer and the owner of recently established, Gifts from Gab Studios Limited- an art-based company that provides various creative solutions such as photography, videography, graphic design and much more.

Very early in my childhood, my parents noticed my passion for the arts and nurtured it by providing me with drawing pencils, canvas, brushes and anything else that would help me better my skills. I would often sit on the steps of our gallery and draw the things I saw in the yard. The garden pipe for some reason was one thing that my creative eye was always attracted to. I still remember my mother looking down at my sketch in shock while signaling to my father that I had drawn the pipe exactly as it stood, just at the tender age of 2. So in fact, my artistic journey did not start with a camera but with a pencil and paper. Only later in my high school years was I introduced to photography while my family and I were stationed by our military in Toronto, Canada. There I learned the ins and outs of pinhole cameras and darkroom development as well as digital photography which is currently my medium of choice.

My experience with photography in Toronto most definitely had an effect on my choice to study the art form at the college level in Atlanta, at the Savannah College of Art and Design. My experiences at SCAD totally transformed the way I viewed my purpose as an artist by teaching me that my art was much more than a pretty picture but a vehicle that could potentially be used to affect real change.

What inspired you to begin utilizing photography as a medium?

Initially I chose photography because I was curious to learn something new. I had painted, drawn and sculpted before and was just ready to try something different. Little did I know it would become my medium of choice today! During my time in Toronto, my school held a parent-teacher conference where my photography teacher suggested that my parents get me a camera. Being the supportive parents that they were and still are to this day, they got me my first digital camera and I have been making photographs ever since. If I had to compare mediums I would say that they all hold a special place in my heart but photography is the one that I am particularly drawn to because of the level of truth that comes with it. When I look through the lens I know that what I am seeing is really there although I am not at all opposed to exploring my imagination.

Can you discuss the inspiration and thought process behind “Fill the Streets”?

Fill The Streets was taken at a small vigil the day after Trinidadian woman, Keithisha Cudjoe who went missing for several days and was confirmed dead and found in the Heights of Aripo, Trinidad. Like many other young women in Trinidad and Tobago, Cudjoe was subject to a gruesome form of gender-based violence which sparked a series of outcries in the nation within the last few years. As a woman myself and a storyteller, I had been following the protests and vigils closely while trying to document them as much as I could. At first, I felt as though I had to go out and capture these historic events because of how uncommon it was to see them in a country like mine- at least in my generation. I felt that by showcasing these photographs, people would understand that these poisonous and violent crimes affect us all, especially the young girls coming after us. When I took the image, I remember seeing the young girl (who is pictured in the image) and her mother moments before, waiting around to see if anyone else would show up to the vigil as it was in very poor attendance. However, despite their disappointment, they still gathered with the few that showed up and held a moment of silence in Keithisha’s name. While some of the attendees lit candles and positioned them near a photo of Cudjoe, the young girl stooped and stared into the flame of the candle as if she was mesmerized by a crystal ball of the future. It was then and there I thought to myself, that filling the streets with candles and moments of silence cannot be this little girl’s future! It ought not to be. The streets should be a place where young women and girls could walk and feel safe, where they could simply go about their daily activities without being harassed or heckled after. More than anything else, the streets should be filled with peace, love and respect for all.

“Fill the Streets” is part of a series, can you discuss the series and its inspiration?

The series or body of work that I am currently exploring is entitled Her Voice and it discusses the real opinions and ideas that women have when it comes to gender-based violence. After returning home to Trinidad and Tobago in 2020 after a few years at the Savannah College of Art and Design in Atlanta, there was an astounding upheaval of violence against women in the country. Ashanti Riley, Andrea Bharatt and Keithisha Cudjoe (just to name a few) were some of the women that we lost to GBV and the entire country felt it. This is what initially prompted me to start Her Voice. When I first began developing this project I thought of it as a safe space for the everyday woman and girls to share how they really felt about the issue. Phase 1 consisted of photographing over 50 women across Trinidad while also asking them to share what they wanted on the topic. So for 3 months straight I posted one photo and statement per day on social media as a way to amplify what these women had to say. I also documented a series of peaceful protests, prayer and candlelight vigils around the island as an extension of the voices being aired on the streets of our nation. As such viewers were given the opportunity to listen and really hear from the source.

Your work seems to utilize black and white, can you explain the artistic decision behind this?

Black and white photography has a very timeless quality about it. You can never really tell when the photograph was taken therefore making it all the more relevant. I also have always associated black and white photographs with a significant level of importance. For example; black and white photographs have always taught us about history and they are also commonly seen in the newspapers- a place where readers go for information and updates on particular issues within their communities. Whenever viewers see my photographs I want there to be a sense of urgency in their minds. A sense that prompts them to pay closer attention to the subject without the distraction that colored photography sometimes creates.

Can you explain why you choose Photography as a medium for your work and voice as opposed to others?

Where I am now in my artistic career, I believe that photography is the most effective way to communicate the message that I am trying to convey. As mentioned earlier, photography has the ability to expose and give a true reflection of reality, therefore, making it compatible with highlighting social issues that need more transparency and more truth. I also thoroughly enjoy the interaction that comes with photography and the exchange that happens between me and the subject. This is something I don't really get when creating a painting or sculpture in my studio. While I quite enjoy the freedom that I have when sharing my own imaginative thoughts and interpretations on a canvas or through a slap of clay, I cannot ignore the wonderful satisfaction of being able to reveal the stories that are already there. If I had to describe my relationship with photography, I would say it is where my love for people and art collide.

Have you experimented with other mediums? If so, which ones and how?

Believe it or not, photography was not my first introduction to art but was a medium I began exploring in my teenage years. My relationship with art actually started with drawing, painting and also sculpting. Those were the years I would say were very formative for me because it was where I learned the basic principles and elements of design, the fundamentals of good storytelling and the discipline that it takes to complete a piece of artwork. I am so grateful to all of my teachers from both primary and secondary school who took me under their wings and guided that little girl who just wanted to draw on everything! Though I was a very talkative and sometimes mischievous little girl, my art teachers in particular always made sure that I was challenged through assignments and exercises within the classroom. They always encouraged me to enter local competitions so that I could be exposed to more perspectives outside of my own bubble. Without the guidance of those teachers, my parents and God himself my life could have taken a very different turn. Now that I am a photographer I see how each medium informs the other. For example, sculpture has helped me to manipulate the meaning of form and the concept of 3-dimensional shapes. Whereas painting techniques like chiaroscuro have helped to train my eye to see contrast (the relationship between light and darkness) which is also a very fundamental element in photography. I still try my best to paint and draw when I can in an effort to maintain some balance between my digital and traditional skills.

Can you talk about your biggest learning experience during the process of photographing someone?

Photographing someone is much like getting to know them for the first time even if you have met them before. I have learned that if you want your subjects to be relaxed and completely themselves with you, you also have to be willing to be as relaxed and transparent as well. The camera has a way of revealing things that we can not always see with the naked eye therefore exposing an individual for who they really are. You never want to make your subject feel like you are intruding or interrogating them but instead, having a simple conversation with them through the lens.

One thing that has always stuck with me, is something one of my college professors said in one of our documentary photography classes which is to never start taking photographs right away. Allow the people in the room to get comfortable with you first and have a conversation with them. Be honest and clear about your intentions first and then begin. By the time you begin photographing they hardly even notice the camera because they trust you and they feel safe. I also try my best to treat everyone that I photograph with the same level of respect. It does not matter if I’m being paid or not, nor does it matter if the very photo I am taking will be seen outside of the two of us. More than anything I have learned that people remember the experience you give them and how you made them feel in that very moment.

What projects are you working on currently? Can you discuss them?

Currently, I am still fleshing out the Her Voice Project and The Letter which deals with the racial prejudice against black men because I feel like I have only scratched the surface where the two bodies of work are concerned. However as an artist my mind is constantly in “create mode.” If only there was a way that I could action-out every idea at the same time, I would have more art to share! What I can tell you is that I have plans to discuss more issues that we as Trinbagonians face locally. There is so much going on right now that we can hardly articulate and so many issues that need to be brought to the forefront. I am hoping in time I can hopefully produce my first solo show or photo book!

Lastly, I like to ask everyone what advice they would give to their fellow artists/photographers, what is your advice?

To my fellow artists and photographers, my advice to you is to know your purpose and pursue it with everything in you! In our chosen profession you are going to be met with a lot of noes and a lot of discouragement from people who are going to try and tell you that you are wasting your time pursuing a career in art. If you know without a shadow of a doubt that art is what you were placed on this earth to do, then do it without fear. You are not always going to get things right. In fact you are not always going to feel inspired or motivated to create but never use that as an excuse to give up. Your art has the power to heal, the power to change and the power to do much more than you have ever dreamed of! Once you know who you are and you believe in what you are supposed to do, not much can prevent you from reaching your fullest potential. I would also encourage you to take those chances that you are afraid to take. You never know which gallery or agency might say yes or in my case, what residency might accept you! Lastly, surround yourself with a community of other artists. It is important that you can be reminded of your mission when needed and important to be able to tap into specific resources when the time comes.

To view more of Gabriella Wyke’s work

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