In this painting, I aspire to personify vulnerability. To many the world around them is a daunting place and the fear of feeling exposed can hold people back from living the way they wish to. When I set out on painting this piece I wanted to give that feeling of self doubt a tangible shape, whilst also portraying the beauty that lies beneath such insecurities. That though one may feel this way about themselves, more often than not the world views them entirely differently.


Doubt Laid Bare 

With this piece I aim to convey a sense of freedom and spirit. A sense of washing away old hang ups and traumas. To walk into a white foreground where one is free to be as they wish. 


Into White

With this piece I endeavour to portray the storytelling ability of ones hands. So much tension is stored in people’s hands that regardless of what facial expression may say, hands can tell an altogether different story. In this paintings the model is in a state of emotional distress. The bold rose window pattern represents the overwhelmed nature of the models mind, that which cannot be seen by the naked eye, and the hands act as the instruments with which the model conveys their true anguish. 


In Each Hand a Story Untold 

The Art In Mind Exhibition was a cancelled exhibit taking place in the townhall theatre in Galway city, Ireland. The idea of this exhibition was to shine a light on the therapeutic effects art has on mental health. As a person who suffers from anxiety, I was honoured to be invited to take part. Unfortunately only days after the exhibition was installed, Covid 19 derailed the event and lockdown came into affect here in Ireland. This was the first official exhibition I ever was to take part in and the cancellation was a huge disappointment.
 Through my oil paintings I try to convey the overwhelming feeling of panic that so many who suffer from anxiety are confronted with on a daily basis. I use loud, bright patterns to portray the sense of disorientation that anxiety creates when confronted with the world around us. These patterns also represent the beauty that surrounds us that is lost when anxiety overwhelms the senses.
Ironically as a result of the Covid 19 lockdown, the message this exhibition hoped to convey could not be more relevant than it is today. Isolation has affected  all of our lives and uncertainty and anxiety has gripped the world. Now more than ever art has come to the forefront as a method of coping and expressing humanities woes in this time of darkness. 
Unfortunately this exhibition won’t be able to be rescheduled in the foreseeable future but it’s message is still important the world over. 

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Catherine Fleming

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