Portraiture of mental illness

Abstract

How do we use visual art to portray an illness which is invisible? Can art bridge the gap between an intellectual understanding and an emotional understanding of mental illness? Through this dissertation I shall delve into works of psychological portraiture and their use in giving a physical form to that which has none. In particular my focus shall be on the portrayal of mental illness. By studying the works of local and international artists and their context, I intend to better understand the different motivations behind psychological portraiture, and the portrayal of the human condition, over a mere reproduction of aesthetic features. My research will culminate in a series of portraits inspired by mental illness through the use of anonymous questionnaires to gain insight into a number of personal experiences. I will be using models sitting in the subject’s stead to ensure anonymity. My intention will not be to produce a simple portrait of the sitter, but to use the portrait as a tool in order to evoke empathy in the viewer.