ABOUT

The second piece from a collection of pieces entitled "Release", this piece named 'Outer Demons' is part of a steady series of surreal portraits that encompass the theme of our inner pains, woes and demons and our awareness/relationships with them.
In this particular piece I am asking the viewer to consider how (particularly in modern society) we are progressively being less and less silent about our inner demons to the point they are outside of ourselves and around our shoulders like a constant scarf. This awareness of individual mental health is, today; creating more of a collective awareness for society about understanding the needs of individuals, encouraging more empathy in the world instead of stigma. Perhaps we should ask ourselves, should we allow people to know our inner demons, as we know them, so that we may heal through the help of those around us, make our inner demons, outer demons...

The "Release" collection is a body of work I am building to raise awareness of mental health and the many ethics surrounding our denial and need for control of our inner demons, instead nurturing the ethos of learning to coexist with them...
In today's society there is a heightened awareness of mental health that is both encouraging and endearing as well as being a constant uphill struggle. We are more often being encouraged to address our inner struggles and not be ashamed of them, this often can become a hyperawareness, finding the balance and the emotions that pulse through the awareness of mental health is the drive of the "Release" collection.
Mediums: Pencil, chalk pastel and ink on paper