03.
Artist
Statement
Reflections on "Comfort"
Conceptual Framework
This work emerged from a need to externalize the internal experience of living with depression and anxiety. The title "Comfort" is intentionally paradoxical—it acknowledges how mental health struggles can become familiar, almost comfortable in their consistency, even as they cause distress.
The piece explores how we find small moments of solace within difficult emotional states, and how these moments coexist with overwhelming feelings of isolation and dissociation.
Technical Approach
The mixed-media format was essential to conveying the layered, complex nature of mental health experiences. Physical painting provides tactile, grounded elements, while digital projection adds ephemeral, shifting qualities that mirror the unpredictable nature of anxiety and depression.
Layered 3D textures create depth that invites closer inspection, revealing complexity that isn't immediately apparent—much like mental health struggles that may not be visible on the surface. The distorted effects represent cognitive distortions and the way perception shifts during difficult episodes.
Sensory Elements
Light and sound play crucial roles in this work. Bright lights punctuate darker spaces, representing moments of clarity or hope. Subtle sounds create an immersive environment that engages multiple senses, reflecting how mental health affects our entire sensory experience of the world.
These sensory elements work together to create a space that feels both uncomfortable and oddly comforting—a physical manifestation of the emotional duality the piece explores.
Personal Context
Creating "Comfort" was both challenging and cathartic. It required vulnerability to translate deeply personal experiences into visual and sensory forms that others could engage with. My hope is that this work creates space for recognition and empathy, and helps viewers understand the complexity of living with mental health challenges.
