# Anguished Art Designs Artists Eliza Gauger and IKB Use Art to Help People Through Difficult Times By Angela Rajic | Published 2014-01-31 | Art & Design Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/eliza-gauger References: [theverge](http://www.theverge.com/2014/1/24/5340950/problem-glyphs-tumblr-eliza-gauger-elias-ikb-interview) & [problemglyphs.tumblr](http://problemglyphs.tumblr.com/) Artist Eliza Gauger and Poet Elias [IKB](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/tiptoe-x-klein-blue) have begun an unusual Tumblr called Problem Glyphs. The blog attempts to take take personal problems viewers send to them and create cathartic [sketches and poems](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-data-poets) to help them cope with their issues a little bit. These drawings are dark, compelling and full of [Gothic imagery](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/anima), including skulls, pentagrams, scary faces and more. The images are symbolic and sometimes frightening and disturbing. The issues expressed in the sketches range from personal insecurity to struggling to cope with past abuse. Eliza Gauger has captured the fear and pain inherent in each of the problems given to her, but has filled them with small bits of hope. This can mean, for example, imbuing a drawing for someone afraid of dying without experiencing life with hourglasses and infinity symbols. Eliza Gauger and IKB have created something that is beautiful and cathartic. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 0.6/10 - Popularity: 8% | Activity: 2% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Art & Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/artdesign) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **Art Therapy:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Developing digital platforms that connect artists with individuals seeking therapeutic art experiences. - **Personalized Expression:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Creating AI-powered tools that generate personalized artworks based on individual's emotions and experiences. - **Gothic Revival:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Designing products and services that cater to the growing interest in Gothic-inspired aesthetics. ### Who This Affects Most - **Art Therapy Services:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Integrating technology and art therapy to create scalable and accessible solutions for mental health support. - **Artificial Intelligence:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Applying AI algorithms to the field of visual arts, enabling personalized and emotionally impactful creations. - **Fashion and Home Decor:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Introducing Gothic-inspired fashion and home decor collections to meet the demand for dark and visually striking aesthetics. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Transformative Survivor Tattoos](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mark-of-life.md) - [Doodling Mental Health Apps](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/scribble-journey-app.md) - [Personality-Based Art Generators](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/soulgem.md) - [Mystical Digital Services](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/tarotandreading.md) - [Typographic-Inspired Intricate Textiles](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/glyph-collection.md) - [AI Tattoo Generators](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sketch-tattoo-ai.md) - [Intersecting Dimensional Art Sculptures](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/diorama.md) - [Kid-Designed Sculptural Furniture](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/galerie-philia.md) - [Sculptural Writing Tools](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/experimental-pencils.md)