In my early 20s I was in an emotionally abusive relationship that had an immense effect on my mental, physical and social health. Without realising it, I used writing as a form of therapy during the relationship.
Written in one notebook alone is the story of my trauma. These words encapsulate the chaos, panic and complex confusion that comes from being gaslighted so heavily. Before my practice started, everything contained in the notebook had never been shared and I had never read it back. My work has allowed me to process these experiences.
‘He Says’ is a contained space in which lays a clay contaminated bed. Contamination is a key theme to my work. When you are under someone else’s control, each and every part of your life is affected. Your foundational values and characteristics change and it can feel like everything you touch is contaminated with your trauma. In the space you will hear me reading out particular extracts from my notebook. It is raw and honest and places you in the stark reality of what it is like to be controlled.
I graduated from Edinburgh College of Art in 2022 and am now training to be an Art Psychotherapist, which looking at my practice, makes sense!
