Pest Covered Eyes
Location
FA-152
Department
Art
Abstract
Mental health is one of those things that is easy to shy away from. In more liberal settings such as universities, talking about mental health has become more acceptable for many. However, many people over the age of 26 experience increased stigma against talking about mental health issues. I want to push against the negative preconceptions we as a society hold toward mental health. One way I believe I can help shift the narrative is by designed posters on mental health using insects as a metaphor. Many of us, including myself at times, experience a primal fear of the tiny little creatures. Sometimes, you just can’t help but flinch when a large winged bug decides to buzz by your ear. I want to correlate our fears of insects with our fear of openly talking about mental health. I believe there is so much to learn from the simple yet beautifully complex little lives that exist right under our noses. I am designing a series of posters that will incorporate insects in various forms in order to encourage viewers to overcome their adversity by talking about their mental health. In the posters, I want to use text, images of insects, as well as mounted preserved insects. Using these methods in combination, I hope to create a series that is rich with texture and tactility. I wish to research our natural psychology toward insects, such as how we use insects as idioms to describe our emotions. Phrases such as “butterflies in the stomach”, or “none of your beeswax” are expressions most understand. Using different styles and insects, I can strengthen the messaging alongside these sayings. The posters will be inside shadow boxes, so the insects will be protected. I will have a series of four 11”x17” posters, and one larger image measuring 4’x 4’.
Faculty Sponsor
Lauren Meranda, Northeastern Illinois University
Pest Covered Eyes
FA-152
Mental health is one of those things that is easy to shy away from. In more liberal settings such as universities, talking about mental health has become more acceptable for many. However, many people over the age of 26 experience increased stigma against talking about mental health issues. I want to push against the negative preconceptions we as a society hold toward mental health. One way I believe I can help shift the narrative is by designed posters on mental health using insects as a metaphor. Many of us, including myself at times, experience a primal fear of the tiny little creatures. Sometimes, you just can’t help but flinch when a large winged bug decides to buzz by your ear. I want to correlate our fears of insects with our fear of openly talking about mental health. I believe there is so much to learn from the simple yet beautifully complex little lives that exist right under our noses. I am designing a series of posters that will incorporate insects in various forms in order to encourage viewers to overcome their adversity by talking about their mental health. In the posters, I want to use text, images of insects, as well as mounted preserved insects. Using these methods in combination, I hope to create a series that is rich with texture and tactility. I wish to research our natural psychology toward insects, such as how we use insects as idioms to describe our emotions. Phrases such as “butterflies in the stomach”, or “none of your beeswax” are expressions most understand. Using different styles and insects, I can strengthen the messaging alongside these sayings. The posters will be inside shadow boxes, so the insects will be protected. I will have a series of four 11”x17” posters, and one larger image measuring 4’x 4’.