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Traumascapes & Landscapes of the Interior – a new exhibtion at the Institute of Mental Health

Date published: 13 May 2018

Posted by: Joe Pick

'Wounded' by Tony Fisher

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City Arts have teamed up with the Institute of Mental Health for a new art exhibition looking people’s experience of trauma. The exhibition is called ‘Traumascapes & Landscapes of the Interior’.

Around 1 in 3 adults in England report having experienced at least one traumatic event. Trauma can cause mental illness. It can also be a symptom of it. The artists taking part in this exhibition range from people with personal experience of mental health issues to artists inspired by the theme. Their work captures a range of different ways that trauma can be depicted, or worked through, using the visual arts.

Tim Challans, Chair of City Arts, said:

“Many of us carry the scars of traumatic events, both physical and psychological. It is fascinating, and very moving, to see how the artists in this exhibition have used art to share, and come to terms with, their experience of trauma.”

Professor Martin Orrell, Director of the Institute of Mental Health, said:

“The arts have been an inseparable part of the Institute of Mental Health since it opened in 2006, reflecting the values of creativity, emotional connections and providing opportunities for inspiration. Using art and creativity can support mental health recovery, and I am very proud of our ongoing partnership with City Arts and the opportunities it brings to support both local and national artists.”

Works on display include: Allan Oliver’s Electric Dreams, which captures the loss of identity that comes after electro-shock therapy; Chris Ellis’ Wheelflake 3 which was inspired the trauma of losing a job due to disability; and Yvonne J Foster’s The Filing System of Trauma which explores how memories are stored in our minds.

The exhibition runs from 16 May to 28 September 2018. It is open for viewings on weekdays from 10am to 4pm. The Institute of Mental Health is on the University of Nottingham’s Jubilee Campus.

Feature image: Wounded by Tony Fisher

Download the exhibition programme below.