Intensely creepy, The Sick Book art exhibition taking place at the dépendance venue in Brussels by artist Michaela Meise takes on contemporary art using different mediums.
"If there is a common ground to the exhibited objects – a book, furniture, ceramics – it would be the notion of the grotesque," says the artist about his eerie art exhibition.
The artist uses the human smile in a carnivalesque way to pay a distorted homage to medieval Christian Europe art that banned laughing and smiling.
Meise's The Sick Book uses photo materials, book covers and a collection of newspaper adverts about mental illness to put the pieces together. He also features seats shaped like floating smiles inspired by the Cheshire Cat grin from Lewis Carol's Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.
Eerily Smirking Artwork
This Michaela Meise Art Exhibition Takes on Mental Illness
Trend Themes
1. Grotesque Art - Creating art that uses the grotesque as a common ground, providing artists new mediums to explore
2. Mental Illness Art - Using photo materials, book covers, and newspaper adverts to create art pieces that raise awareness about mental illness and disorder
3. Carnivalesque Art - Experimenting with the use of human smile in art as a form of distorted homage to forbidden medieval laughing and smiling practices
Industry Implications
1. Art Exhibitions - Creating and curating exhibitions that showcase artists' unique use of different mediums to evoke a sense of grotesqueness and other emotions among viewers
2. Mental Health Advocacy - Using art to promote mental health advocacy by showcasing different art forms that raise awareness and give insight into mental illness and disorders
3. Publishing - Publishing photo books featuring mental illness and disorders, providing a fresh perspective on the issue, and creating a new market for readers interested in exploring the topic