Queensland artists living with mental illness have charged their paint brushes to challenge social stigma and share their journey of hope at the annual MIFQ Art Exhibition, on display in Brisbane’s King George Square from tomorrow (Saturday 14 May).
Coinciding with Schizophrenia Awareness Week, “Silver Lining, a retrospective” celebrates 25 years of artistic achievement by people with lived experience of mental illness. The exhibition features works by more than 150 artists.
Queensland Mental Health Commissioner Dr Lesley van Schoubroeck said the exhibition provided an opportunity for artists to be recognised for their talent and not their illness.
“Enhancing social inclusion, reducing stigma and discrimination and addressing socio-economic factors are essential to improved mental health and wellbeing,” she said.
“Through their work, these artists are speaking volumes for those people living with severe mental illness who continue to be among the most economically and socially marginalised in our community.”
“Like all of us, people living with mental illness need a purpose in life.”
Schizophrenia Awareness Week is a national week which calls for action on the issues faced by people experiencing severe and persistent mental illness.
Schizophrenia is a condition characterised by disturbances in a person's thoughts, perceptions, emotions and behaviour. It affects approximately one in every 100 people worldwide and commonly begins in adolescence or early adulthood.
The MIFQ Art Exhibition runs until Thursday 19 May and is attended by more than 3,000 people. All artworks on display are for sale.
*Carissa’s story reprinted courtesy of MIFQ (http://www.mifq.org.au/)
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Every canvas has a silver lining during Schizophrenia Awareness Week (PDF, 344.63 KB)
