Tue 30 Apr 2024 - Thu 30 May 2024

Location

Lionel Bowen Library, Maroubra

Address

669-673 Anzac Parade, Maroubra

Stony Ground / Pocketful of Hope shares body maps – large, human-sized artworks – created by people who have faced stigma or discrimination due to mental illness, disability, or a refugee background. These artworks were created as part of the Women and Stigma project which aimed to learn about experiences of stigma and discrimination that often remain invisible, but which can have profound impacts on quality of life, health, employment, and access to care.

Each body map offers a vivid, and visually captivating window into the unique life-history of the artist who made it. Together, these maps tell important stories (which too-often remain hidden) about the very real effects of stigma and discrimination, and the strength, courage, support, and love that can help combat these effects. Capturing a broad spectrum of experiences – from walking on stony and unforgiving ground, to finding an unexpected pocketful of hope – these body maps will inspire, intrigue, and enlighten.

The Women and Stigma project was led by researchers at the Black Dog Institute, Australia’s only medical research institute dedicated to researching mental health across the lifespan. Black Dog Institute’s goal is to create a mentally healthier world for everyone. Learn more about Black Dog Institute by visiting https://www.blackdoginstitute.org.au/

This exhibition is free and open during library opening hours.

Image above: © Penny Shapter, ‘Hidden Colours of the Invisible’, 2022, acrylic on calico.

Exhibition launch:

Join us for the exhibition launch on Friday 3 May, 3.00-4.00pm. Light refreshments will be provided.

RSVP to:  p.vaughan@blackdog.org.au

About the curators:

Dr Barbara Doran is an artist, curator, and cross-disciplinary researcher, who has exhibited artwork internationally and has twice been awarded the UN Bioethics and Art prize for photography. Barbara’s research and curatorial work straddles the worlds of arts and academia and focuses on creative approaches to support health, wellbeing, and engagement with complex systems. Barbara is the Director of Creative Intelligence and Strategic Innovation at the Transdisciplinary School at University of Technology Sydney (UTS). Barabra is also the lead curator of the SPHERE Knowledge Translation Platform (a leading national healthcare partnership).

Dr Priya Vaughan is a mental health researcher who works at the Black Dog Institute (UNSW) and SPHERE’s Knowledge Translation Platform. With a research background in social anthropology, Priya takes an interdisciplinary approach to health research, drawing on arts-based and participatory methodologies to learn about, and share knowledge regarding, complex social experiences such as the impact of stigma on health and wellbeing. Priya managed the Women and Stigma project and is thrilled to share the beautiful maps created by artist-participants with Randwick residents.