Breaking down barriers with art
‘‘To be able to cut up the coat that used to hide me, I felt so much relief.’’
Cutting up a coat was turned into a powerful message on mental health stereotypes by one Lower Hutt artist.
As part of the MIXOLOGY creative showcase at Odlins Gallery, Jonny Langley donned a coat he used to wear constantly when he was mentally unwell.
Seven years ago he was diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD).
On the opening night of the showcase, March 22, he played a song for a crowd of about 40 gathered and invited them to come up and cut off pieces of his coat.
‘‘I used to wear the coat every day, thinking that it would protect me from feeling ashamed of how I looked, but it actually made me a target.
‘‘To be able to cut up the coat that used to hide me, I felt so much relief.’’
By having people cut away the cloth he said he was able to practise detachment.
It was a challenge including performance art, but Langley came away with a coat in tatters and an 18-minute video of the piece for MIXOLOGY.
The exhibition is run by Mix, a non-profit organisation which supports people’s mental health wellbeing.
His performance piece ties into his wider work exploring mental health stereotypes in popular culture.
Paintings, clothing and jewellery of Langley’s on display draw on movie villains such as Hannibal Lecter to explore mental health stereotypes in popular culture.
The main theme explored in his art is ‘‘mythomania’’ or the abnormal or pathological tendency to exaggerate or tell lies.
He places animal predators alongside the fictional human ones and shows viewers the vulnerability they have to being victimised.
‘‘I find that problematic people in film are good representations of evil, lying and manipulation,’’ he said.
‘‘Instantly people recognise the character and the attributes that go with them.
‘‘Whilst in real life the signs are not so obvious.’’
MIXOLOGY is open daily 11am-4pm until 2 April at Odlin Gallery, cnr Myrtle and Huia streets, Lower Hutt. Free entry.