Explanation of the Mental Illnesses as Paintings series:
The Mental illnesses paintings series is a series about mental health, how it is stigmatised and not taken seriously.
Depicting non mental illnesses and calling them such equates them. People tend to not take mental illnesses seriously and this is what I wanted to adress in my manner. the many different types of reactions from incredulous to enraged at the thought of being called mentally ill proves my point.
Some of them were funny and some of them were very serious. I hope to have shown to be able to approach both serious and less serious subjects.
Some of the non medical ones were to just show a bit of who I am as a person and an artist and what I stand for.
This series allowed me to combine multiple facets of my life such as my own experience with mental health, my love for horror movies and my love of art.
I have spoken about my mental health issues openly before and hope to continue being able to do that even though I don't always find it easy. I am someone who has struggled with anxiety to the point developing Agoraphobia and Depression .
I take mental health very seriously and did not intend to make fun of this.
My message is that everyone has an internal world that you know nothing about. be nicer to each other. the brain is an organ like any other that can get sick and it is not a personal failing or something to be embarassed about.