Sunlight
Lewis Bush
Self-Published
English
Softcover
28 pages
140 x 210 mm
2021
ISBN Not available
‘Sunlight’ is a collection of cyanotypes of essential medical equipment, drugs and other supplies and services which were badly needed in the early stages of the pandemic but were either in short supply or were entirely inadequate and below standard. These are paired with screen grabs of some of the government ministers and advisers who stand accused of having pre-existing connections and conflicts of interest, some of them undeclared, with companies hired at great expense to provide these supplies and services.
Noting such relationships do not imply politicians concerned directly profited from these relationships, but that is not the point. A conflict of interest exists, whether or not the persons involved profit from it, or are even aware of it. As the ministerial code, which binds all serving ministers notes ‘Ministers must ensure that no conflict arises, or appears to arise, between their public duties and their private interests’.
This is exactly why such relationships must be disclosed, laid bare in the light of day for discussion and judgement. As the lawyer and justice Louis Brandeis (1856 – 1941) wrote of the vast and largely unconstrained power of the nineteenth century robber barons ‘publicity is justly commended as a remedy for social and industrial diseases. Sunlight is said to be the best of disinfectants.’
(source: http://www.lewisbush.com/sunlight/)
About the Artist
Lewis Bush studied at the University of Warwick, worked as a consultant researcher for the United Nations HIV/AIDS taskforce, and then started to develop his own projects from 2012 onwards. His work looks for ways to visualise powerful agents, practices and technologies, and the links that connect them. He does this via a variety of media and platforms – using photography, text, video, data visualisation, exhibitions, books, films, and apps. Bush’s body of work is prolific he has exhibited, published, and taught internationally.
lewisbush.com
(source http://www.lewisbush.com/biography/)
