Florescence
My work seeks to illustrate the many layers and subtly of mental illness, in relation to the stark contrast often felt between one’s inner world and exterior facade. Through the use of Digital Painting my work illustrates the vivid emotions that may be hidden within oneself - suppressed, and imperceptible to the outside world. I aim to shed light on the inner emotional landscape of mental illness that is rarely seen and so easily misunderstood.
I have deliberately utilised Digital Media in order to portray the potential for incongruity between one’s inner and outer world. For which the slightest of gestures may be felt as a great surge of sensation. Initially, the coloured artwork shows the physical appearances of a person, yet with the addition of the second series the psychological appearance is revealed. My intention is to bring forward an understanding of the dual nature of mental illness and its imperceptible workings.
In my digital paintings meaning is conveyed through each individual flower. The gifting of flowers and their motif is a common superficial representation and expression of emotion. I have employed this symbolism by using different coloured flowers and those in different conditions to demonstrate the ever-changing emotions we hold within ourselves. Whilst intimating to the viewer that such emotions may only be surface-deep, distorted, and in fact hard to decipher as compared to what lies beneath.
Florescence: the process of flowering: the process of developing richly and fully
