'Grande Bruto' is an intimate project documenting my father Leo’s recent life events. It traces the events and relationships that unfolded for Leo during the turmoil of the past few years.
Following a series of ill-fated events, a mental breakdown and fresh out of a psychiatric hospital, Leo found himself broke, in the grip of an alcohol addiction and living with Glen, an Aussie larrikin who struggles with his own addiction problems, in a rundown house on the outskirts of Newcastle.
Despite his dire predicament, Leo fell in love and married Rosie, a sweet, god-fearing woman who saw his faults and decided to love him anyway.
This project details their life on the margins. It’s raw, unflinching, full of humanity and often laced with humour. These intensely personal works are intended for anyone who has suffered from mental health issues, addiction or trauma and for the people that choose to love and care for them.