Isolophilia: Embracing the beauty of solitude
Govanhill based artist Gabriel Davidson (26) held his first show of paintings in Glasgow. The exhibition called ‘Isophilia’ explored the hidden joys of being alone. In this article Gabriel writes about the inspiration behind his first solo exhibition.
Photo of Gabriel by Stewart Campbell
By Gabriel Davidson | Photos by Karen Lucas and Stewart Campbell
In December I held my first solo exhibition of my paintings from the last two years at the Saltspace Gallery. After observing a lot of my paintings showing figures alone, ‘Isolophilia’ seemed like an appropriate title. It describes someone who has a deep desire to be alone.
German philosopher, Arthur Schopenhauer said “A man can be himself as long as he is alone; if he does not love solitude, he will not love freedom; for it is only when he is alone he is truly free.’’
He meant when you are alone you have the ability to think clearly without distraction.
Alone time gives me the chance to think about my experiences and gives me some relief from social pressures. I relish the moment after socialising when the opportunity to decompress with music on the bus home arises. My exhibition was not about loneliness or isolation. It was about the quiet peaceful places we go to when needing a break from life.
Scenes from Isophilia exhibition last year by Stewart Campbell
Life, especially in Govanhill, is vibrant, fast paced and full of people mingling. Getting away from the hustle and bustle is sometimes needed.
But there are times where I think social media has affected my ability to appreciate being alone. FOMO ( fear of missing out) leaves people feeling excluded, particularly if someone sees friends having fun on social media while they’re stuck at home. Letting my mind wander without the distraction or pressures of social media is a luxury after a hard day’s work.
After limiting my social media use, my life became a lot clearer. Time wasted on worrying about not being included was filled with personal growth and opportunity. Socialising even became more enjoyable, making it less about needing to stay included and more about the enjoyment of people's company. Before, socialising could get tiresome.
During my exhibition I featured a painting of my sister on her phone relaxing, with the window beside her overlooking a tenement outside. This was inspired by the song Waterloo Sunset by The Kinks, which captures an intimate moment alone in the songwriter's life: "Everyday I look at the world through my window." She is looking at her phone, a different type of window to the world referenced in the song. The aim was to capture the intimacy of being with yourself.
Gabriel’s art work from Isophilia exhibition last year by Karen Lucas
For me, solitude is a comfort as long as there are opportunities to socialise when I want. The need to escape for me, can arise at work or at social gatherings. Getting away on my break was a priority when I worked at M&S.
This inspired one of my pieces, which aimed at capturing my then imagined idea of heaven or fantasy land. It represented an escape from the hard grind of everyday working life.
I also painted my brother scraping wallpaper off a wall with a handheld machine, using dramatic lighting to illuminate the scene and bringing drama to the mundane. It also captures those quiet, thoughtful moments during work.
Alone time is a great way to connect with who you are. In the modern world, social interaction is sometimes more about exchanging stock phrases, and knowing what to say. Expressing oneself completely can be difficult. Some people keep parts of themselves hidden for good and bad reasons. When alone you can acknowledge these hidden traits comfortably. People with a good sense of self are usually more secure in their own company.
Everybody has a different capacity for sociability. My view is that more people, if inclined, could benefit from a small dose of solitude and a break from social media.
Not everyone may like it. But being comfortable in your own company is necessary when growing up, living on your own and when moving between different friendship groups. It is underrated. Why not embrace it from time to time?