André Hillas’ work focuses on the themes of isolation and insanity following a traumatic life event. Hillas shattered his elbow in a freak accident and found the ensuing trauma to be a fertile source for this series of works. Over the period of a month he recovered in hospital and at home, all the while using his art practice as a means of documentation and escapism. The resulting work is an exploration into his predicament, his physical trauma and consequential psychological damage.
During this period, the Internet became a vital means of communication. Facebook became Hillas’ only social outlet, the sole form of connection from his small suburban bedroom. Heavy pain medication affected his mental state; he describes the experience as akin to “being drunk all the time.” Despite his fragile state, Hillas felt the need for some kind of expressive act, a window into his warped perception. The resulting work is the series of Photobooth experiments. These works explore technology as a means of escape, and satisfy Hillas’ need to construct his own reality and reflect it in a way that would support his escapist urges.
The accompanying works ‘Portrait in my house (Bedroom, Hallway, Bathroom)’ explore Hillas’ physical limitations. During his recovery time he was unable to venture outside, thus his architectural bounds became ever constricting. This series of portraits explores his claustrophobic environment, the metal brace on his arm mirroring the walls around him. The result is a portrait of the fragility of the human body, an ever-present reminder of mortality.
Zac Segbedzi
October 2010
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