This art exhibit at a SoBo gallery aims to further mental health conversations

Often mental health conversations are stifled by the stigma around words like depression anxiety paranoia and bipolar disorder Arthistorian and curator Dr Arshiya Lokhandwala adds that such conversations require a safe space but people are quick to judge making it hard for anyone to seek help In curating I want tomorrow the ongoing exhibition at Kamalnayan Bajaj Hall and Art Gallery she highlights the need to break the silence explaining ldquoThe title is an affirmative statement mdash the first step to getting better We all have to deal with our mental health No one is off the spectrumrdquo The works on display by eight artists are a step in this directionArtwork by Poonam Jain PicsAtul KambleArtist Meghna Singh Patpatiarsquos illustrations of shells and installations of keys in glass spheres reflect the experience of retreating isolation and being left to our own devices to deal with anxieties particularly in the context of the pandemic mdash especially after we see a 25 per cent increase in the global prevalence of anxiety and depression according to a brief by the World Health Organisation released on March 2 The sculptures by artist Starlyn DrsquoSouza take symmetrical shapes inspired by Rorschachrsquos inkblot tests offering a start for viewers to explore their thoughts and interpretations to highlight the uniqueness of an individualrsquos mind And finally artist Mithu Sen voices her own anxieties about selfplagiarism and authenticity as an artist igniting the conversation for viewersContinuous Conversations 4 by AlQawi Tazal Nanavati PicDr Arshiya LokhandwalaDr Lokhandwala says ldquoI hope the show mobilises us to speak up learn to be inclusive recognise patterns of behaviour in ourselves and others and reach out for helprdquoSome of the artists whose works are part of this show share what theyrsquove voiced through their work and how it has helped themArtwork by Meghna Singh PatpatiaLiving memoriesAlQawi Tazal Nanavati artist MumbaiMy artworks represent the memories of my late mother Mumtaz that I want to preserve forever I used to talk to my mom every day before she passed so when she left there was a magnanimous void Doing or making anything seemed like I was creating new memories without her but life has to go on I started making artworks to overcome grief and writing letters to her to preserve memories Slowly the letters started including her things to feel her physical presence again These artworks are made using her clothes They are letters Irsquove written to her in a secret script that holds many emotions one cannot pen downMeera GeorgePreservation in my own handsMeera George contemporary mixed media and performance artist PuneOphelia is a video performance about a womanrsquos search for a place to rest as she goes through mundane life Today as a working woman and mother of two I often find myself seeking those moments of peace and solitude The artworks Defrost and Gyres express states of selfpreservation and coping mechanisms when faced with challenges of the mind The artworks exhibit an obsession for drawing circles as a tool to still thoughtsFreedom through artPoonam Jain artist MumbaiThe necessity of creating comes from the urge to unlearn and unburden to gain a sense of freedom from reality even if it is temporary It is to understand the surroundings in a way that is not preconditioned by institutions that we often find ourselves in Purvi B SharmaA fine balancePurvi B Sharma artist AhmedabadI wanted to show the complexity and fragility of the mind through patterns As mental health is invisible we may ignore or suppress it So channelling emotions in the right way is important Creating art helps me maintain my peace as the process becomes very meditative Itrsquos about finding oneself amidst this chaos In my artwork the patterns showcase a balance between structure and imbalance in the same way that our mind has peace and chaos withinStarlyn DrsquoSouza AlQawi Tazal Nanavati Dr Arshiya Lokhandwala Sunaina Kejriwal Poonam Jain Meghna Singh Patpatia and Saviya LopesWoven strengthSaviya Lopes visual artist VasaiMy art holds perspectives of emotional labour that falls disproportionately on women Quilts and handkerchiefs are pieces of textile which provide comfort refuge warmth and protection They act as a symbolic shelter against the trials and tribulations that range from personal to political While the outcome is a beautiful quilt the process highlights sustaining emotional labour and is a counter to being silenced Sewing helps me to navigate emotions and memories The act enables me to reclaim solitudeTill April 27At Kamalnayan Bajaj Hall amp Art Gallery Bajaj Bhavan Nariman PointFreeItrsquos all in your mind so letrsquos get it outJasmine Kaur Ahluwalia therapeutic movement facilitator and expressive arts therapy practitionerWhat is itExpressive Arts Therapy is using art mdash making movement music to selfexpress gain insight and establish mindbody connection Aesthetics are not of primary focus the process of making or engaging with art mattersHow does it help1 Uncomfortable experiences like anxiety can make us less present Artmaking can bring back mindfulness to focus on the needs of the mindand body2 As a means to express unconscious thoughts that might influence our thinking and behaviour covertly3 Watching othersrsquo art can help explore shared human experiences and thereby our own vulnerabilities4 What therapy one needs depends on several factors Opt for art therapy alone or combine modes of therapy It is important to seek professional help and evaluate optionsWhat can I doWhen you feel overwhelmed try drawing or scribbling It doesnrsquot have to look good it just needs to mirror how you feel at the moment Feel the different strokes and textures This can be a good way to externalise your emotions and relieve any stress