Gabriel, or Gabs, as many call him, lives with schizophrenia—a sour companion he’s held onto since adolescence, when he experimented with the wrong substances at the worst possible time. While most might describe it as a "burden he carries," Gabriel has always preferred to see it as an integral part of who he is. Hence the emphasis on "living with it", as that’s how he experiences it—and more importantly—how he wants to live and express it. Stigma is often perpetuated through words and acts of ignorance, especially by those who lack a true understanding of the condition.

            I GOTTA CHANGE is the slogan—or rather, the mantra—that Gabriel has been repeating constantly for a while now. Behind this refrain lies the yearning of a man striving to be better, to want more, to resist being crushed by the opinions of others about his art, which is irreverent, defiant, and explicit, yet also beautiful, delicate, and honest. Gabriel’s story is one of stigma: coming from a well-off family and endowed with undeniable artistic sensitivity and restlessness, his achievements still do not earn him the respect or recognition they deserve. Gabs is a creative whirlwind, a restless spirit who challenges and unsettles a traditional, conservative household—a space that often feels like an extension of the family’s attempts to keep him hidden.

            I GOTTA CHANGE is a project that, through the lens of Gabriel's experience, aims to shed light on the stigma surrounding mental illness and the way society marginalizes those who suffer from it, denying them their identity or pressuring them to conform to a world that, from the start, never intended to include them.