Personal Project Final Piece

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Projects

BA Hons Graphic Arts

Honours | Mental Health & The Discovery of the Creative Mind

Personal | Discovery – Self-discovery project

This project will be looking into the discovery of the creative mind and the affects that Mental Illness has on both creative people and creativity.

During the research stages of this project I will explore different types of Mental Illness to gain a background of information. The areas I will be looking into are Stress, Anxiety, Depression and Psychological aspects. Researching into the physiological aspects I will be looking at how Mental Health is a part of a person. This will be looking at if this is environment or is it DNA, Genetics or family history. To do this I will explore the Nature Vs Nurture debate, this will link both Honours and personal projects together. Why look at this? Well this links to mental health because its asking the question are we born with a Mental Illness, if we have one or does the environment impact or bring out these illnesses. Is it both?

In this project I will also explore Arts and Education and the impact this could have. This research will look at how the arts are currently under attack by the current Conservative Government. What’s being said? It’s being said that there is no value to the creative arts, it’s a hobby and not vocational. The research will look into what is being said and possible quotes that have been used by MP’s to back this up. In research I will also explore Art Therapy to back this argument up. The effects of art therapy are amazing showing that people with mental health problems can use this within an education purpose to combat their mental health problems.

DNA Testing

What does DNA say? Linking back personal to honours. I will look into my past to find answers. The idea behind this is to generate an understanding of the nature vs nurture debate, this could help me to discover possible health issues that could be linked genetically. Researching into to this area could possibly give answers into the debate to see what is found in the environment vs what is passed down genetically. This will also expand on research to discover if there are currently any links that have been discovered in news / science to say Mental Health is in your DNA.

During the project I will explore current design solutions to this topic, what has been done before? To do this I will explore what current Mental Health charities such as Mind Matters, the NHS and what current artists are doing in support to the issue / in relation to the topic.

One major issue that needs to be explored during this project is the taboo/ stigma that is still attached to Mental Health. It can be seen that Mental Health is being talked about more freely, but there is still a stigma that is attached. During research I will explore both sides of this argument, who is saying that there isn’t? and who is saying there is? Mental illness has suddenly become the ‘norm’, it is easier to talk about, it is discussed in social media and there seems to be a rise in discussion. There is still stigma attached, as Ruby Wax would suggest ‘So people go “Come on, come on!” Especially in England they say “Stiff upper lip; snap out of it.” And you can’t.’ This could suggest, that people don’t want to talk about it, they just pass it off as something you can just snap out of. But it can also be seen that compared to 10 years ago to now, there seems to be less.

The design outcome

Personal Project | An illustrated patchwork – A project about me. The illustrations that have been designed will tell a story, each representing a story from my life. There are 6 illustrations that each hold a different meaning, with there being no type on the images it’s up to the viewer to work out what each illustrations means or could represent.

Illustrations in order of layout

Illustration 1: Illustration one is the discovery of my ancestry dating back to 1800’s. From the ancestry DNA test that I took this illustration reflects my results.

Illustration 2: Illustration two is an illustration of a personal story, My creative mind. I want the show to showcase me as an artist, a sort of showcase in the life of me… What goes on in my brain? I want to generate the link between Creativity and the mind, to do this I want to show my creative mind.

Illustration 3: Illustration three is an illustration of a personal story, Little House. Throughout my illustrations I have images that appear throughout. I have a number of illustrations where a house always appears…. I don’t know if this is a conscious decision? why it appears, it just does.

Illustration 4: Illustration 4 is an illustration of a personal story. With this illustration I wanted to get across my home time and where I come from. My Roots. The illustration has images that represent this place for me. In my research I found that Birkenhead was once town that birch trees grew upon. Which the name Birkenhead comes from. ‘Headland over grown with birch.’ The church in centre is Birkenhead’s oldest and first building. This is what represents where I’m from to me.

Illustration 5: Illustration 5 is an illustration of a personal story. This illustration is a continuation from the fourth. I took the idea of roots and family and blended them together. This illustration represents the roots and foundations that are built within a family and where you come from.

Illustration 6: Illustration 6 is the final in the patchwork. This Illustration is a representation of future thinking. The future is unknown who knows where I will end up.