An Accumulation of Unheard Whispers

An Accumulation of Unheard Whispers is about transformation. Through pattern and repetition, I explore the highs and lows of change and the importance of seeing change as a process. My artistic practice has always involved personal narratives that explore subjectivity, the body and challenging issues. My aim is to bring awareness to what has been repressed and show alternative ways of thinking.

Recently, I’ve been researching alternative perspectives on depression.The American Psychiatric Association defines depression (major depressive disorder) as a common and serious medical illness that negatively affects how you feel, the way you think and how you act. It can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems and can decrease a person’s ability to function at work and at home.It goes without saying that living with depression is not easy and to downplay anyone’s pain is not my intention. I wanted to find the positives to remind myself and others that there is life after depression. We don’t experience these difficult times to suffer in vain, all our experiences are meaningful.

Depression is a communication to the self, from the self, about the self.

A few years ago, I started writing in times of anxiety and depression as a form of therapy. This body of work is figuratively and literally patterns of my layered thoughts. Originally my handwriting was chaotic and occasionally hard to read, reflecting my state of mind at the time while the final images are symmetrical and balanced, representing my desire to be centered. This process of creating shares the same message as my research: take what’s deemed negative and make it something positive.

You don’t have to experience depression to go through a personal transformation but when we ignore the subtle signs they become louder and more disruptive. Depression is an accumulation of unheard whispers.