Powerful images of mental illness
The exhibition “Out From The Mist” at Gallery 48 showcases 28 digital images that explore mental illness from various perspectives, including lived experience, relationships, stigma, recovery, and hope.
Itmay be a truism, and a hoary old one at that, but the saying ‘pictures tell a thousand words’ is still spot on.
An exhibition currently showing at Gallery 48 on The Strand, entitled Out From The Mist, features photographic images that speak volumes about mental illness, and how it affects those who experience it and, in some cases, those who love them.
The exhibition includes 28 digital images that were entrants in the 2022 Out From The Mist competition, an annual event which is open to photographers, audio producers and short film makers exploring their own experience of mental illness or that of someone close them.
Entrants are encouraged to explore the emotion of their experiences but also touch on one or all of the following perspectives: lived experience, relationships, stigma, recovery and hope, change.
The result is some extremely powerful and sometimes confronting images, many very beautiful in their composition and execution but at the same time thought provoking and often disturbing – this is not an exhibition to be viewed lightly.
Gallery 48 director, artist Anne Lord, said she had no real idea what to expect when she agreed to host the exhibition.
“When I opened the package I thought that many of the images were very elegant,” she said.
“I look for the poetry in art and it is there in images such as a beautiful diptych titled Release.”
By US photographer Teresa Brown, one photo shows a typewriter depicted in soft colour, sitting in a grassy meadow with flowers, with a typed sheet or paper. It is paired with an almost monochrome image of hands holding ripped up sheets of typing, a stark contrast to the other picture.
“It’s a serene piece, but at the same time unveiling something important,” said Anne.
“Then there is one called ‘I’m Fine Thanks How Are You?’ that depicts someone selfharming – it’s very in your face, it upsets me.”
The photos are beautifully executed – composition, lighting, digital enhancement is skillful and creative – but there is power behind the beauty.
A set of four gripping pictures entitled The World Ripped Apart by Australian Laura Brown depicts her experience of depression. Laura explains her methodology as a series of selfportraits depicting the feelings of loneliness and helplessness when struggling with depression:
“Using monochrome and light to create mood. Scanned and edited to create a film look and a wonky, grainy texture which describes the whole internal struggles with mental health, eg grainy and fussy and not seeing straight,” she writes of the series.
Townsville member of the Mental Illness Fellowship Australia (MIFA), Selectability, and The Hub were involved in securing the exhibition, which is travelling around Australia.
Selectability general manager Sally Bawden, speaking at the opening, said the artworks are powerful expressions of emotion that represent aspects of the human experience that we can all relate to.
“They offer great insight into people’s stories that need to be shared and celebrated to support greater understanding and acceptance of mental health issues in our community,” she said.
“The images on display include work from 23 countries, and this competition continues to grow in all corners of the globe, making this event truly international.”
All the digital images in the exhibition are for sale at $290 each, with a proportion of the price going to support MIFA.
THE ARTWORKS ARE POWERFUL EXPRESSIONS OF EMOTION THAT REPRESENT ASPECTS OF THE HUMAN EXPERIENCE THAT WE CAN ALL RELATE TO.
Gallery 48 is at 2/48 The Strand in North Ward, and is open Wednesday to Saturday from 12pm to 5pm, or by appointment, phone 47244898.