It feels absolutely surreal to have completed an MA Fine Art (online)…I would never have thought it possible. Having a designated studio space helped….but really ‘a designated space’ is what you make it…..could be wheresoever you please really….what really matters is being able to create, having secure storage for your materials. However, because I work organically, my studio is the haven that works for me!
So back to topic!!!! I have submitted my MA Fine Art portfolio and it feels exhilarating….I’m still processing it! Hasn’t quite registered…I just have ‘free time’ on my hands which is such a relief. The last two terms have been hectic! I stopped running….barely went to yoga….barely had much ‘downtime’ and then I started getting anxious! It all started in earnest in September….occasionally my brain resets to alleviate stress….I try to ignore the feeling of unreality that just seems to pervade my headspace….often it’s in vain. However, I just thought to beat this, I’m going to lean into it…..to lift the lid….to not battle alone. I decided to make these episodes of derealisation the material for my final MA public facing outcome. All of a sudden….it’s not something to fear…but something to live alongside! I caught an image of myself….a selfie I did not recognise….pressed button on my phone to capture the image…hey presto…I’m on a roll. The images I worked from are still images I do not recognise…images that are the bedrock for the installation.
It is quite interesting creating artwork from ‘lived experience’ but honestly…’to thyself be true’. Now I would tell anyone that would listen to ‘create from the heart’….’create what is true to you’….’what really niggles you’….use your creativity as a sounding board…..as grounding mechanisms to talk about your deepest darkest fears….because I have found that shining a light on what bothers you the most makes it less daunting.