Self-portraits on drugs

Laura Wilson discusses the art project which caused a huge stir; Bryan Lewis Saunders’ series of self-portraits which were each created on a different drug.

Self-portrait under the influence of marijuana
Image credit: Bryan Lewis Saunders via the Huffington Post

Bryan Lewis Saunders’ collection of self-portraits on different drugs started as an extension of the classical genre of self-portraiture. But Saunders’ artistic attempts are far from classical. In 1995 he challenged himself to draw one self-portrait every day, for the rest of his life – a noble feat that shows a commitment to his craft. By 2001, however Saunders was searching for more and more drastic ways to present his own image and turned to almost 50 prescription, recreational and illegal drugs to induce an altered state of mind, from which to draw himself.

Saunders describes his ‘Drugs’ project as an ‘experiment’ and explains “within weeks I became lethargic and suffered mild brain damage.” He posits that for his own health he is ‘still conducting this experiment but over greater lapses of time’ and that he only takes ‘drugs that are given to me.’ Whilst this may look like an attempt to highlight the (sometimes permanently) mind-altering effects of drugs, and a mild disclaimer of ‘Don’t Try This At Home’, Saunders artistic career is in fact, completely caught up in altering his environment, finding new ways to induce dreams and hallucinations and does little to promote any kind of ethics against taking drugs.

Other pieces in Saunders’ oeuvre include distorted albums made up of the artist speaking out his delirious fantasies, and a stream of consciousness comic book illustrated by Ed Pinsent, all of which betray a dark fascination with drug culture and how narcotics can be used to escape the body. When Pinsent reviewed Saunders’ record ‘Spastic Dementia’ he suggested that the “abiding message seems to be that life is brutally painful and inhuman so you decide to take drugs to escape it; then the drugs cause even worse things to happen, and then you die – and you find your troubles are only just beginning” to which Saunders replied: “I was afraid people would not get [this]!!!! I was afraid that it be [sic] over their heads.”

Image credit: Bryan Saunders via the Huffington Post

Except people have been ‘getting’ mind-altered art for centuries. It is highly speculated that the evocative colours of Vincent Van Gogh’s celebrated Starry Night were a reflection of the effects that lead poisoning was having on Van Gogh’s mind, as he came into too close contact with the lead based paint he used on his canvases. Like Saunders, he too suffered from hallucinations; one reason absinthe was such a popular drink in late 19th century France is because of the widespread belief among Parisian bohemian artists, that it induced helpful visions for their work. Even if Saunders only takes each drug to facilitate a single portrait, he is still in conversation with the artistic experimentation of Salvador Dali who expressed ‘everyone should eat hashish, but only once.’ Whilst Saunders is the most popular result when one searches ‘artists who took drugs’, he is by no means the first, though his attempts have probably gone further than most.

The portraits went viral in 2011, but by this point they were over a decade old, leading us to question Saunders’ motives for these works of art. Were they a personal experiment to draw out greater nuances in the techniques of self-portraiture? Were they intended to cause a stir in public? Perhaps Saunders attempted to bring together psychology and art and answer scientific questions about the effects of drugs, using an artistic medium. Or perhaps he’s just crazy. Whatever the answer, Saunders’ drug portraits invite the viewer to ask a multitude of questions as all art (and probably a lot of drugs) enables us to do.

View more of Saunders’ self-portraits on drugs, and his other work, here on his website.

Laura Wilson

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Enduring Honduras

Joel Mason reflects on the problems faced by Honduras, and his experience living there.

“When the great fall out, the weak must suffer for it” – so finishes the fable of ‘The fighting bulls and the frog’. Yet for the gently-spoken teacher sitting reading to the group of children assembled in front of him, wearing whatever collection of rags of uniform they could muster, this fable wasn’t just another story – it was their story. Sitting in the school on a picturesque hillside in rural Honduras, charged with teaching about 30 pupils of all ages and abilities in just one classroom, he recognised in Aesop’s tale the plight of his own country. Just as the frogs in the fable are trampled on when the bulls fight, so too do ordinary people across Central America feel powerless – victims of forces beyond their control.

US soldiers play football in Honduras Image credit: Staff Sgt. Sean A. Foley U.S. Army

At the time this occurred (the summer of 2009), the parallel had been thrown into particularly sharp relief for the students of that school, and the many like them across Honduras. The then-president Manuel Zelaya had just been ousted by the army in a coup, and much aid to the country had therefore been cut in response, including the daily ‘merienda’ funded by the World Food Program. The merienda provided all students in school with a simple meal during the morning, and for many poor pupils this was the only thing which stood between them and severe malnutrition. These people simply wished to get on with their lives – the political manoeuvrings of the country’s military elite were just news that filtered through to them on the radio and when traders passed through. Tegucigalpa, the capital, may as well have been a foreign country to them. Yet it was they, and not the powerful generals or corrupt politicos, who were punished when the bulls fought.

This feeling of being a dispensable pawn on some larger battlefield, echoes tragically once more in Honduras’ present situation. Since Nixon first declared the ‘war on drugs’ in 1971, it has consumed ever greater resources, with over $1 trillion spent on it to date by the US, but there is woefully little to show for this vast expenditure. This piece is not about the claimed rights to drugs of users in the US, nor about the Sisyphean futility of the task – cracking down on drugs, driving prices up, and thereby making drug trafficking an increasingly appealing option to poor, ill-educated people in countries with few opportunities. Instead, I wish to highlight the oft-forgotten impact this has on ordinary people in their everyday lives.

As the resources lavished on the traditional culprit, Mexico, gradually began to make drug trafficking there more difficult, the drug trade and its associated problems have gradually been pushed down Central America into countries which are even poorer and even less able to cope than Mexico. Now, it is estimated that 80 per cent of the cocaine which goes to America passes through Honduras, the majority of it overseen by powerful gangs.

Indeed, the emergence of gruesomely violent gangs across Central America, known as maras, has been exacerbated by the deportation of many who had been incarcerated in the US for drug offences. These people returned to Central America, replete with ruthless attitudes and experience of violent gangs, to countries already lacking the basic protection of law and order and awash with weapons.

Central America now finds itself inundated with violence; the murder rate in Honduras is the highest in the world outside a war zone, with an average of twenty people killed each day last year. San Pedro Sula, which should be a thriving industrial hub on the sweltering north coast of Honduras, is instead the most dangerous city in the world, in which street gangs murder with impunity. Of course, with the notoriously corrupt police barely able to keep track of all the violence, let alone prevent it, many young people are drawn to gangs by the safety and opportunities they appear to offer. With guns freely available, and the country growing ever more violent, the incentive is there for an ever-growing number of people to try to get their hands on weapons, which in turn leads to more violence, heightening the sense of fear, and so the vicious cycle continues.

Even in the small, rural village in which I lived for a year and a half between 2004-2005, it was commonplace even for respectable members of the community to walk around armed, pistols casually tucked into belts. I often used to go with friends to visit their little plots of land or tend to their cattle; though younger than almost everybody at this University, they would often carry pistols. In a society lacking the rule of law, and with a severe problem of alcoholism thrown into the mix, it is not hard to envisage the bloody end which is all too often the result of this toxic combination. In the year and a half I lived there, in my village and the surrounding area alone, with fewer than two thousand people, there were fourteen murders. This was, we were told, a good period. Having since been back, the problem has worsened significantly.

Looking at the problems faced by countries such as Honduras, and the effect these have on the lives of ordinary people, it is hard not to feel a sense of despair. Yet perhaps if more thought can be given to the lives of ordinary people as these great battles rage on around them, then there can be the prospect of a more optimistic future. Indeed, there is a growing cacophony of indignant voices which, appalled at the carnage they see, are calling for a change in the policies pursued by the US.

Ultimately, until people can harbour hopes of a better future from legitimate activity, they will continue to be drawn to drug trafficking. Until they can expect safety from the law and the state, they will continue to be drawn to violent gangs and the reassurance of weapons. The challenge faced by Honduras and other Central American countries is of how to achieve peace and prosperity when every day they face more bloodshed. For the sakes of the friends I have who live there, and the many people like them who simply wish to live their lives, I hope a solution can be found.

Joel Mason

Is the "Homeless Drug Addict" Stereotype a Defence for Doing Nothing?

Rachel Brown looks at the current controversy regarding homelessness on the streets of Exeter and asks if the, “Homeless drug addict” stereotype is more of an excuse for general apathy towards the homeless population.

“But look! You can get a fiver out of the cash machine over there!” went the feared retort fired at the passer-by who had “engaged”. On the receiving end, I mumbled a doubtful defence and hurried away, probably to buy “the good bread” from Marks and Spencer. In the wake of Exeposé’s front-page article which said that drunken, Jack Wills donning Exeter students are the target of boozed-up beggars who really have accommodation, we must reflect: do intimidating experiences justify our detachment from homelessness when it is in our streets and actually, “it” is sat outside Sainsbury’s looking mournful and clutching his dog for warmth?

Photo Credit: Hotpix [LRPS] via Compfight cc

It’s reasonable that when giving money to drug-addicted homeless people, we are actually keeping them on the streets and away from support. But what about the rest of the homeless population who are not shooting-up every night courtesy of student goodwill? “Homelessness is not what you think” says Kay Hammond of Emmaus, an Exeter-based homelessness charity. “Yes there are a lot of drugs and alcohol, but there’s also a lot of returning service personnel with post-traumatic stress disorder, and a lot of families – people who never thought they’d end up homeless.” These are the stories of the homeless overshadowed by the smackhead stereotype; that same stereotype giving us licence to avoid eye-contact and walk past, guilt-free. Additionally, how do we know “the help is out there” without up-to-date insider knowledge? Just days ago, a charity for homeless young people, Nightstop made a Radio Exe request for more host families because demand is increasing. It’s nice and simple to apply a blanket approach of “do not give money”, but homelessness is not simple because it’s human.

We are talking about people as unique as you and me, and what actually happens with the blanket approach is we stereotype and may end up giving nothing of ourselves to homelessness. It’s time to stop, make eye contact and realise the burden is on us to know what the right thing to do is. We must engage. That involves finding out what local support resources are really like and giving our time or money to the right ones. When safe, we must talk with those homeless in our community’s streets. Who is the homeless person sat outside your Sainsbury’s? Well, we didn’t exchange names but his canine pal did get a tin of dog food from me!

Rachel Brown

Hopefully he had a can opener too!  Is the assumption that a homeless person is a drug addict an unfortunate reality or just an excuse for us not to part with our pennies? Write a reply below or post a comment to the Exeposé Comment Facebook Group.

Cocaine on campus

COCAINE traces have been found in eleven buildings across campus, an Exeposé investigation can reveal.

Tests were carried out in a total of fifteen toilets in both academic and non-academic buildings across campus using specialist swabs that detect cocaine residue. The results indicate abuse of the Class A drug extends beyond the recreational spots on campus to academic and administrative buildings.

Photo credits to Joshua Irwandi

Cocaine was discovered in the toilets in the Lemon Grove, Northcott Theatre and the Forum, as well as in the following academic buildings: the Physics Tower, Washington Singer, INTO, Queens Building and Amory, and the disabled toilets on Level 0 of the Forum Library.

Positive results were also obtained in a toilet tested in Northcote House, the administrative hub on campus which houses the offices of senior University staff. There is no open access to Northcote House for students.

Similarly, two separate toilets at the end of the Guild top corridor tested positively for cocaine residue. These toilets are open for staff and student use, as well as visitors to the university.

Toilets in the Peter Chalk Centre, Harrison Building, the first floor of Queens Building, Streatham Court and Level -1 of the library were also tested, but the swab results were negative.

The strongest results were found in the disabled toilet on the ground floor of Queens Building and the disabled toilet on the first floor of the Physics Tower. In both of these locations, a much larger trace quantity was detected in comparison to the other locations tested

According to Estate Patrol, the number of reported drug-related incidents on campus increased by almost two-thirds in 2012. In 2011, only eight cases were reported, in comparison to the 23 cases that were reported last year.

A spokesperson for Estate Patrol said that it sometimes receive phone calls from students who have noticed a suspicious smell in Halls of Residence but confirmed that in virtually all cases cannabis is the drug being used. The spokesperson also told Exeposé that generally, Estate Patrol do not seize large amounts of drugs on campus.

A spokesperson also commented that they were not surprised by Exeposé’s findings, considering the large number of people on campus.

When presented with the evidence obtained by Exeposé, a spokesperson for the University said: “The University has a zero-tolerance policy towards drug taking, and informs the police of all incidents as and when they occur.

“If students see anything suspicious or would like to report an incident, please contact Estate Patrol.”

The University also stated that the high number of positive test results in multiple locations across campus is not unexpected, considering that “most of the toilets tested are used by hundreds if not thousands of people each year.

“Last year we had 23 reported drug incidents among our 18,000 students, the vast majority of which were related to cannabis use.

“Whilst we’re not complacent, the evidence does not suggest that we have a significant drug problem at Exeter.”

The Guild agreed with the University regarding the extent of drugs abuse on campus, emphasising that “the Guild operates a zero tolerance to drugs use amongst students and staff”.

They added: “The Guild does not believe that there is a significant drugs problem at the University. The Advice Unit is available 24/7 to discuss any issues surrounding drugs use.

“The Advice Unit works closely with the Wellbeing Centre, should anyone wish to discuss the matter in confidence.”

However, Dr Vik Mohan, who practices at the Student Health Centre said that Exeposé’s findings were concerning.

She said: “Evidence of such widespread use of cocaine on the campus is deeply concerning to us at the Student Health Centre, as cocaine use poses such a huge risk to the health and wellbeing of our students. These risks include addiction, death from overdose, heart attacks or seizures, and mental health problems (or worsening of pre-existing mental health difficulties).

“Of course we strongly advise against the use of cocaine, and all other recreational drug use.

“However, at the Student Health Centre we offer a full range of confidential support for anyone with concerns about their health as a result of any drugs they may have used or are using, and are very experienced at supporting students with drug-related problems.”

In addition to the Student Health Centre, Dr Mohan advised that there are many other places students involved in or affected by drugs can go for confidential advice and information. These include the NHS Direct, NHS Choices, Exeter Drugs Project and Talk to Frank websites.

Dave Rigg, the Director and Founder of Crackdown Drug Testing, the company that makes the brand of swabs used in Exeposé’s investigation, stated that the swabs obtain results that are between “95 to 99 per cent accurate”. He also confirmed that the swabs can detect traces of cocaine up to a month after the surface has been used for snorting substances, even after repeated, direct contact with cleaning products.

Rigg explained the science behind the swabs: “The test is based on the reaction between cobalt thiocyanate and cocaine. Cobalt thiocyanate in solution is a pink colour, when cocaine comes into contact with it an immediate blue colour develops.

“This simple generic test is widely known and used throughout the forensic science community.”

Rigg explained the swabs are regularly used by Devon and Cornwall and Metropolitan Police, as well as dozens of other UK constabularies, prisons and customs to detect cocaine abuse.

Words: Beccy Smith

Additional reporting: Tom Payne, Zoe Bulaitis, Ellie Steafel and Ben Murphie

The Dark and Disturbing Mind of Hubert Selby Jr.

His work has been trialed for Obscenity offences, has caused widespread outrage and offense, and his reportedly caused one reviewer to be physically sick: so why are the books of Hubert Selby Jr. re-published as Modern Classics for a new generation of readers? Georgina Holland describes her chilling reading of two of his best-known books as she journeys into the dark and disturbing mind of Hubert Selby Jr…

“If you read this, be careful…”

I came across Selby out of pure voyeuristic intrigue. I had heard that his books were something else: challenging, chilling, explicit, and provocative. What I hadn’t expected was the level of dark disturbia that goes into Selby’s authorial imagination. As the Guardian described it, reading Selby would be “a terrifying journey into the darkest corners of the psyche”*. A dark journey it was, but one that I couldn’t seem to stop.

I would describe reading Selby’s books as a sort of sadomasochistic experience: at points the scenes are so explicit, so chilling, so disturbing, that you can barely read the words; yet I would challenge any reader to put the book down or to tear their eyes away from the page. It all began with Requiem for a Dream (1978), one of his best-known novels that was adapted for the silver-screen in 2000. The plot is made up of two halves: on the one side there is the narration of main protagonist Harry, friend Tyrone, and lover Marion. The trio are slipping into a dark and dangerous lifestyle as what begins as a weekend habit soon evolves into a harrowing heroin addiction. This addiction will eventually tear the three apart and, without giving away too much of the plot, will have severe and crushing consequences for each. On the other hand there is the story of Harry’s mother, Sara, a lonely woman with two dangerous, conflicting, and little-understood addictions: food and diet pills. Requiem for a Dream is a story of addiction and the changes that it can make. As those with a basic grasp of addiction will know, in every case there is a moment when the addict will reach “rock bottom”. With opening chapters that were so saddening that I had to stop reading, I found myself closing the book, looking at the hundreds of pages left for me to read and wondering when will these characters hit their “rock bottom”?

“A terrifying journey…”

Next I moved on to The Room (1971) – again a story of simple structure: the anonymous narrator is a criminal locked up in isolation. What follows is 225 pages of the mental ragings of man left to dwell for years, alone, on thoughts of justice, revenge, and torture. The novel was described by Selby as “the most disturbing book ever written”: a fitting depiction indeed for a book that contains scenes of abuse so graphic that I would compare the experience of reading to be as visually explicit as watching a horror film. But if the book is so disturbing, why not simply stop reading? There is something about the way that Selby writes, with unwavering honesty, that makes his books painfully hypnotic to read. Here is a man who dares to go into the darkest depths of the human mind.

His books penetrate the darkest underworld of our society: prostitution, gang warfare, addiction, mental trauma. His life as a painkiller and heroin addict clearly resonate in every fractured sentence of writing. His works have been trailed for Obscenity offences in Britain and have cause widespread outrage at their content; yet they are published as Modern Classics by publishing houses such as Penguin. Why? Because Selby’s writing is not about the author, the characters, or the troubling content, it is about the reader. In every book he aims to challenge and question our expectations as an audience. From content that is unflinchingly honest and blunt, to a complete flouting of grammar, spelling, and punctuation rules, every page comes as a shock to the system. It seems that Selby wants us to understand our power as readers: if we are able to imagine the graphic and gruesome scenes that are conjured up by Selby, are we not then as bad as the characters that he has devised? What I have discovered is this: Selby’s books are not for the faint-hearted. Once picked up, you will instantly regret turning the first page, but I challenge you to put them down once begun.

By Georgina Holland – Exeposé Online Books Editor

*quote taken from the Penguin Modern Classics edition of “The Room”
Featured image by Sylvia Plachy