A collection of images that began in 2007; #winning scratchcards bought and played but never cashed in.
#Winning is a collection of prints dealing with the my relationship with gambling, framed by my upbringing as a Quaker. I have been collecting winning scratchcards since 2007, I love the anticipation of revealing whether or not there is a big win lurking behind the silver wall, but at the same time, feel conflicted about the potentially ill-gotten gains they offer.
A 2002 submission to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport from Quaker Action on Alcohol and Drugs states that “Quakers have a long-standing testimony against gambling because we believe that it involves unfair gain without effort, it fosters the idea that happiness is gained through material possession, and because the profits of gambling are acquired at the expense of others’ loss. We endeavour to “Resist the desire to acquire possessions or income through unethical investment, speculation or games of chance.” (Quaker Faith and Practice, 1.02.39) Quakers also testify for moderation or abstinence from those behaviours that can cause addiction.”
All these prints are each produced in a small edition and priced as per the total amount of winnings on the cards depicted in that print. Selling the prints is an attempt to resolve my moral struggle with winning.
Sixteen Winning Scratchcards
£86 in unclaimed winnings. A2 giclee print in an edition of 5, priced at £86 each.
Winning 7s
£11 in unclaimed winnings. A2 giclee print in an edition of 7, priced at £11 each.
Eight Winning Scratchcards
£12 in unclaimed winnings. A2 giclee print in an edition of 5, priced at £12 each.