Altered States of Mind

‘Altered States of Mind’





‘Altered States of Mind’ is a collaborative project based on my friend Simon Leonard’s bipolar affective disorder (manic depression). The work breaks down the stigma surrounding mental health and reveals the positive effects of using photography as a tool for creating awareness.



By using photographic processes in a series of performative events, I have delved into the conscious and subconscious mind by using stripped out rooms and empty warehouse buildings as a canvas.



The empty spaces have a therapeutic effect by having no material distractions and allow calm thought processes.



I am interested in how photography can explore and show what is unseen.

Using performative photography, and combining physical movement that help illustrate thoughts, feelings and emotions as visual metaphors. This process creates images that explore mental health through multiple lenses in different ways. The refraction of light and movement breakdown thought and time.



‘An Active Container’

This body of work, interacts dynamically with a process of photographing unconscious movement, enabling the mind to undergo a liberating calmness. The blurred motion and the physical framework become metaphors of thoughts and emotions captured in time.



‘Active Room - Yellow’

This focuses more on the subconscious, capturing the effects of solitude and isolation. The corner of the room becomes a focal point, a safe place to have an outward view.

The metaphorical framework shows a more analytical form of isolation. The positive effects of medication are explored in visual terms as a metaphorical medical framework illustrated with gestural hand drawn lines.

The images are combined with an abstract sculptural layer extending the room into the viewers gaze.



In using photographic, gestural and sculptural elements, I believe these methods and processes can be effective tools to explore and examine the issues at play regarding states of mind.