“How tragic however resilient human life is,” mentioned my half-asleep grandma, talking over the cellphone from the chipped doorway of her condo complicated’s bottom-floor cafeteria.
I had simply despatched her one in all my latest artworks – a self-portrait referred to as “Clouds Scatter Simply”. I had waited for her to misconceive, or to reward emptily, seeing simply the colours however not the emotions beneath. However she noticed proper by way of me.
My grandma, recognized with main despair years prior, was the primary particular person in my household to unabashedly pursue remedy. Once I virtually gave up alone bipolar prognosis, it was her instance that satisfied me to present therapeutic yet another probability. So I shouldn’t have been shocked {that a} conceptual {photograph} I created by layering my ache into puddles of dizzying neon can be so clearly understood, if by nobody else, then at the very least by her.
In tough moments, artwork was a treasure chest I didn’t need to – didn’t need to – open alone. A drawer within the nook of the closet the place I stuffed all my messy emotions away; a gilded relic adorned with faux jewels I put up for others to admire. It shapeshifted to cover and present what I needed it to. It was a method to course of my emotions in peace, externally. Shouting my ache whereas furiously scrubbing it over with a veneer to downplay its significance, I squeezed my eyes shut hoping somebody would peel the highest away to show unsuitable the loneliness I shoved beneath. And somebody, my grandma or whoever else, at all times did.
Artwork is a method to heal, not as a result of it guarantees reduction, however as a result of it guarantees launch. An exhale of the emotions we are able to’t untangle inside ourselves, blurted out in paint, present defiantly, proudly, as a result of no matter it’s, it’s sufficient simply as it’s. Whoever we’re is sufficient. Simply as artwork is.
This, to me, is what makes artwork so integral to psychological well being. It lets us pave our personal method to understanding, at our personal tempo, with our personal palettes. However it additionally invitations others to hitch us on the journey, in order that even when at first we’re alone, at the very least the trail has been lit.
Once I realized concerning the mission behind The Giving Gallery, I knew contributing was a no brainer. A method to share artwork whereas donating to psychological well being charities like Psychological Well being America – what higher method to honor all the things artwork has been for me? To understand all that artwork has been and can be for another person?
Artists, share your work with The Giving Gallery – allow us to heal alongside you. Artwork lovers, browse The Giving Gallery – allow us to be taught alongside you. Artwork is many issues, however maybe what it’s most is that chipped doorway to a cafeteria the place, unceremoniously so, it homes all our loves and distastes in a single place – typically subsequent to at least one one other, typically in remoted corners, promising an indulgent, curiously, wondrously shared second of humanity.
Diana Chao is a Giving Gallery artist and the founding father of Letters to Strangers, a world youth-for-youth psychological well being group. She is a part of the 2023-2024 MHA Younger Leaders Council. Beforehand a part of Adobe’s inaugural International High Expertise cohort, her pictures has been featured by Vogue Italia, Redbubble, Adobe MAX, and extra.