Growing Pains

This body of work was made in December 2017

Growing pains is a mural. Materials used; acrylic paint, fine liner and sharpie.

Growing pains is inspired by the concept of internal monologue and social commentary. Thematically, I was presenting the idea of a chaotic visual overload. Using text as the main method to express my thoughts, approaching the work with a DIY aesthetic, and focusing on themes of instructive thoughts, anxiety and self-doubt. I find it interesting to juxtapose the dark nihilistic text with the bright colour palette. On the surface, the wall looks positive and bright but when you read into it there are elements of darkness and anxieties, the question of the seen and unseen, appearances and how we present ourselves outward versus the the inside truth. I was inspired by ‘the diary’ format, in a diary we allow ourselves to be authentic and real, unafraid and brave.

The mural was only there for one month and then I painted it all over white. This was symbolic and cathartic, to destroy this wall was destroying all of the negative thoughts I had at that present moment. The making and then destroying of the mural reflects the impernamnce of fleeting feelings and how humans can change, grow and recover. I was inspired by the artist Yayoi Kusama who follows a similar practice, playing with colour and repeated patterns as a form of expression and self-care. The overwhelming visual allows the viewer to enter into a different space or consciousness, this has informed the basis of ‘Headspace’ - 2019.

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