“I love that I’ve been able to create a platform for people to come together and share their stories in an untouched, unfiltered way…that allows creative people a platform to express themselves openly and naturally without too many boundaries.”
Name: Stu Chapman
Occupation: Founder of Indisposable Concept & Creative collaborator
Hometown: Planet Earth
Current Location: Brisbane, QLD
What do you do? Why do you do it?
I do lots of different things. I run my own design business and I’m the Founder/Curator of global film photography inspired project/community – Indisposable Concept.
Did you study anywhere or self taught?
I have a Diploma of Graphic Design & Business and a Bachelor of Design Studies. The rest was taught to me from the world and my experiences through the creative industries and various work I’ve been involved with. I’ve learnt a whole lot from the people I’ve met along the way, those human connections and interaction will teach you everything you need to know and more.
What’s your favourite camera and/or equipment to work with?
Depending on the occasion. I love packing a bunch of disposable cameras (preferably FujiFilm QuickSnap 400’s and try not to think about it all too much. Just try and get in the right spot and hope that something happens in front of me. Timing truly is everything and being in the right spot at the right time, like most things in life.
Who are your favourite photographers?
Rennie Ellis, Martin Parr, William Eggleston, Vivian Maier, Ren Hang, Henrik Purienne, Ming Nomchong, Kate Bellm, Helmut Newton, Slim Aarons, Linze Mason, Neil Krug, Jason Lee Parry, Danny Clinch, Ansel Adams, Mike Calvino… to name a few… so many great photographers out there… I haven’t even started on the plethora of good photographers that have come through the Indisposable doors over the years…
Who or what else inspires you?
I’m stimulated and inspired by so much. Music, travel, people, coffee, art, design, good conversation, new opportunities, people believing in me. Huge Basquiat fan. One day when I grow up and have lots of money I would love to have some Basquiat pieces and a house with walls to hang them on. Freedom and owning my own time inspires me. Trying to find ways to get my time back and being able to commit that time to myself and the things I love. That inspires me. Too much time is wasted doing things you don’t want to do for work or money. Not sure about that system of living. Trying to take back control of time motivates me.
How did you manage during Covid times? Did you create or reflect?
Covid was challenging for me. Personally and commercially, my work was effected, which ultimately created financial and creative restrictions.
We moved from the big city to the beach and began the healing process. In the face of adversity and an attempt not to lose my mind, I utilised the time to throw a lot of paint at a bunch of canvases. A very therapeutic process for the mind, body and soul. I documented it online through Instagram. Some of this work (painting and photography) was featured in various gallery exhibitions around Regional Queensland in 2021.
How have you evolved over the years?
I guess as creative humans we naturally just evolve and progress over the years. It’s that thing of so much changing but nothing changing at all. I’m always looking for new ways to be inspired and new ways to have a breakthrough creatively. I think we naturally change as we get older and view things through a defined lens. We hopefully know ourselves a little better and can be a kinder to ourselves. We tune in a little greater to the things that make us happy and fill the soul. We tend to worry less about sweating the small stuff.
What are you listening to atm?
All the things. Spotify takes me on new adventures every day. I don’t even know who or what I’m listening to sometimes. I usually type in an artist or song that I’m feeling at the moment and it just suggests new sounds for me to find and follow… It’s brilliant. The Discover Weekly Playlist rocks around every Monday and leads me down a new path. I pick little nuggets out of that to create my own playlists and the suggestions just keep on coming.
What websites do you frequent?
What tools or apps help you get your work done?
ADOBE CC, Wordpress, Format, Instagram, Sportsbet
Are you reading or watching anything right now?
Reading the Dave Grohl bio at the moment – The Storyteller: Tales of Life and Music
Where are you travelling to next?
Hopefully heading west soon. But will take North, South and East as well. Very ready to move and experience some more travel time.
What is your greatest achievement?
Indisposable Concept. I love that I’ve been able to create a platform for people to come together and share their stories in an untouched, unfiltered way. I love that the project allows creative people a platform to express themselves openly and naturally without too many boundaries. It’s nice to think that the IC project was part of the great film photography revival, in some small way.
One thing you would like to achieve this year?
A big fuck off lotto win. So I can just disappear and focus on the art.
What advice would you share to others wanting to get into your profession?
Don’t. But if you do, make sure you keep the receipt.
“On some nights, I still believe that a car with the gas needle on empty can run about fifty more miles if you have the right music very loud on the radio.” — Hunter S. Thompson
stuchapmandesign.com / indisposableconcept.com
Instagram: @stuchapmandesign / @indisposableconcept