Project · 2010–2017

Big Brother

Big Brother is a long-term photographic project by British photographer Louis Quail, documenting the daily life of his brother Justin, who has schizophrenia. Over seven years, Quail made intimate portraits, domestic scenes, and quiet observations that reveal Justin's routines, moments of joy, and struggles. The work challenges reductive media stereotypes by foregrounding Justin's humanity and the sustaining bond between the brothers. Published as a book by Hoxton Mini Press in 2017, the project has been presented in exhibitions and gained attention for its sensitive, first-person perspective on living with mental illness within a family. Its significance rests on Quail's patient, respectful method, which builds a complex, enduring account rather than a single defining image.