Insights of an Eco Artist Team. Paul James Kearney discovered the darker side of the gay community in Brighton, where chemsex parties were enabled by smartphones and hookup apps. The artist observed people of all ages and professions partaking in chemsex, including educated and seemingly normal individuals. While not judging or vilifying drug users, the artist aims to raise awareness of the global epidemic of chemsex through their art, continuing the much-needed conversation about this issue.
When I moved to Brighton in I quickly discovered a darker side to the gay community. I experienced a disconnect, empty gay bars and clubs. Behind the veneer of jovial drag queens and Regency architecture lies a new way to party, enabled by smart phones and hookup apps such as Grindr and Scruff.
I thought it meant gin and tonic, it means tina and gina, slang for the two primary drugs of choice for such events which are methamphetamine and Ghb. Ghb is the dangerous one as its so easy to overdose on, you can't mix it with alcohol and a millimetre is the difference between a good arousing buzz and a drug induced coma. I'm talking about what's known as chemsex, the combination of drugs and sex in a group that can last for days. To say this was a culture shock is an understatement.
It was and possibly still is to some degree seen as part of everyday life in some places, however its not just Brighton and I am in no way bashing Brighton its in every village and city in the UK, Dublin, Madrid, Melbourne, Rio, Berlin, no where is exempt in the developed world. Living in the UK I met a lot of men of all ages who partook and invited me to parties in London and Brighton. Its hard o see very nice and educated people deteriorate in your friend or acquaintance group. I'm not judging or vilifying drug users, we all have our reasons and past traumas, nor am I glorifying it, I am simply observing it as an artist.
Chemsex, is a global epidemic of the developed world. I've seen too many incredible people vanish into the depths of addiction from this vicious cycle, they are worthy of beating it, they deserve so much more, and I'm delighted to say I know people living happy and fulfilled lives who are thankfully out of it.
