This is a Phantom: The Suttie Arts Space Grampian Art Trust

This is a Phantom is an exhibition of new photographs I created in 2025 following a series of research visits to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary. The exhibition unfolds across three interconnected strands.

During my initial research, I became intrigued by the architecture and landscaping of the hospital and university campus spaces that feel both generically institutional and uniquely shaped by the specific histories of Aberdeen’s medical and academic development. A series of photographs explores this environment, capturing its layered character and physical presence.

These images are presented in frames made from readily available materials such as plywood and aluminium—an intentional nod to the materials used in early prototype MRI scanners developed at Aberdeen’s MRI Research Centre. I was particularly struck by the improvised, often chaotic assemblages found in experimental technological settings, an aesthetic that speaks to the provisional nature of innovation.

The final series focuses on MRI phantoms: specially designed objects used to test, calibrate, and maintain the accuracy of MRI systems. Though not made of biological tissue, phantoms mimic the physical and magnetic properties of the human body, allowing for precise, repeatable imaging. My photographs of these objects highlight their strange, abstract forms, drawing attention to the unseen structures behind medical imaging.