Opening in Cardiff’s Ffotogallery this month, Swansea photographer Jack Moyse presents an exhibition, events, and performances linking to his latest project – What It’s Like (Being Me), an autobiographical series that depicts his experience of muscular dystrophy mainly through self-portrait photography. He spoke to Billy Edwards about witnessing change, helping to make that change, and his own growing profile.
Photographer Jack Moyse’s upcoming exhibition has resulted from him winning an open call, titled Interventions: Gallery Reset and a partner project between Ffotogallery and Disability Arts Cymru. In conversation, Moyse is positively thrilled about a “snowball effect” in the awareness of his art, which has been gathering speed since a BBC News interview in January. I wondered whether the project’s sensitive yet stark photography, often featuring the artist himself half-dressed, was difficult to share.
“It definitely did feel daunting because it’s a deeply personal project: a lot of it relates to trauma and mental health topics that we’re not really expected to talk about. But I’ve been really fortunate to have had some really great supporters and opportunities.”
Jack’s art cathartically reinvents discrimination he’s received online, indicative of his desire to move media attention from the conditions themselves to the everyday lifestyles of people with them. One striking piece, All Eyes On Me, features doodled eyes surrounding Moyse’s chest, draped in shadow; another, standing in a market recording responses to his body, is taken from his time in Arles, France. “It might sound a bit crazy, but I do think that it’s worth all the potential negativities just for the chance to change people’s perspectives,” he says.

Having completed a Master’s in Photography, Jack has a fascinating perception of how that medium has evolved, and how it has proved inspiring in capturing the life he leads. “Twenty years ago, there seemed to be a change in the way that documentary photography was being captured. Historically, it relates to topics that the viewer isn’t necessarily emotionally involved in. Now, there are more people talking about personal experience. It’s been a really empowering change to see people creating bodies of work that relate to their struggles.”
The main goal of the project is to normalise the lived experience of disabled people so more can understand the difficulties they face. Moyse will be striving to achieve this through immersion – the combination of different media sources and mediums of art – inspired by Northern Irish gallery Belfast Exposed. Enacting change “on a personal level” is important to him, and he hopes the immediacy of his artwork prompts viewers to “think about the ways that they interact with the people in their lives that live with disabilities”.
Perhaps his art has attracted a lot of attention as its creator is inspiringly determined in his ambitious project: a visit to the gallery is a chance for able-bodied allies to feel “the difficulties that some people face in just their everyday existence”. Furthermore, he desires to make a lasting impact on Swansea’s art scene that opens the door to new artists. “It’s really important to me that people leave having experienced something about themselves that they potentially weren’t expecting.”

Changes regarding accessibility implemented during his tenure will be there to stay, as he believes art is best when it’s open to everyone. With previous exhibitions, he struck upon a particular balance. “We’ve had sort of a wide range of people, from those who really know their art to people who are there for the first time. I really like that combination.”
When the conversation turns to the future, he explains how he would like to examine sectors of society that conditions like depression and anxiety are usually not associated with. For example, he hints at a fascinating idea about farming: capturing “the difficulties that profession experiences” as entrenched isolation. For now, Moyse describes himself as both “relieved” and very proud of his current project. “My disability has been a journey, and I’m really grateful that I was able to start presenting that journey through art.”
Jack Moyse, Interventions: Gallery Reset, Ffotogallery, Cardiff, Thurs 3 Aug-Sat 9 Sept.
Admission: FREE. Info: here
words BILLY EDWARDS