As he sits in front of me, composed and inspired, I can tell that Andrew McGibbon has a firm grip on his dreams. Andrew has successfully struck the fine balance between being a commercial photographer and a fine artist, and his first solo exhibition “All The Wild Horses” is scheduled to open at Fat Tuesday Gallery in Kloof on 20 March.
Story: Samora Chapman
Andrew firmly believes in letting the creative process take its own path “allowing for magic and mystery,” as he puts it.
“I often have an idea to create an image, and the idea evolves and changes as I go along and come across different challenges or opportunities,” he says of his creative process. “The final product is usually quite different from the original idea. It’s kind of the story of my work!”
Andrew’s ability to follow his heart was key to the conception of “All The Wild Horses”.
“I worked on an add campaign for the SPCA,” he explains, “and at the end of the shoot I took this photograph of a horse, and the pic just had this special quality. The animal’s physique and incredible shiny coat just made for such a brilliant pic. It almost looked like an old man!”
Inspired by the photo, Andrew began photographing horses in the Hillcrest/Shongweni area, which is renowned for its equestrian lifestyle. The result is a moving collection of portraits, capturing glimpses of the awe-inspiring power and prowess of the majestic animals.
“I want my work to stand alone in its aesthetic,” he muses. “And I don’t mean that I just want to make images that have a purely aesthetic quality and no meaning. I want the aesthetic to make you feel something without focussing on the meaning. The literal definition of ‘aesthetic’ is to evoke a feeling.’
Andrew began his career in the fashion industry, but soon got disillusioned with the vacuous nature of the work. He spent a few years shooting weddings, doing pro bono work and pursuing another dream: social justice. He finally took the plunge by purchasing his own lights and dedicating himself to full time photography just over a year ago.
His flair and confidence have seen him rise rapidly to success. His current projects include a campaign for the designer store The Space; photographing Olympic athletes for international agency Periscope-Creative; and exhibiting at the In Family Unity exhibition, which is travelling to 100 cities across Europe.