Dharmajit Smith, 'I don’t want to talk about it'. Painting, 2023
I don’t want to talk about it by Dharmajit Smith
Painting
Artist statement: ‘I don’t want to talk about it’ is an attempt by me to try and communicate the experience of living with chronic depression as-well as other associated ‘sickness’.
The piece tries to capture my experience of isolation when ‘I don’t want to talk about it’ - choosing instead to isolate myself from others because…..
1. Words fail me
2. People generally don’t like talking about emotions or difficult ‘things’
3. I am ashamed of my depression
4. I do not want to ‘infect’ others
5. You’ll think I’m wierd
6. I don’t want to worry people
7. I don’t want to bring attention to myself
8. You’ll think I am weak
9. You’ll know I’ve been wearing a ‘mask’
10. You’ll ‘go easy’ on me/you’ll hold it against me someday.
Hence the common ‘depressive’ will rarely disclose much and will often ‘wear a mask’ to convince others (and themselves) that everything is okay when it is not.
Essentially ‘I don’t want to talk about it’ is a piece about confusion, isolation and the fear that someday the ‘mask’ might slip or begin to break-up or breakdown.
However, If you wear a ‘mask’ for long enough your greatest disguise will be found in the act of not wearing one at all - for people would barely recognise you!!!
This piece then is me briefly taking of the ‘mask’ and going incognito as the person I am - as someone who lives with chronic depression and all the shit that comes with it - before quickly recoiling back into the familiar and ‘safe’ ground of ‘I don’t want to talk about it’
I hope something good comes of this piece.
With much love
Dharmachari Dharmajit
Follow Dharmajit on Instagram at @Dharmajit_messyplay
Dharmajit Smith, 'I don’t want to talk about it'. Painting, 2023
I don’t want to talk about it by Dharmajit Smith
Painting
Artist statement: ‘I don’t want to talk about it’ is an attempt by me to try and communicate the experience of living with chronic depression as-well as other associated ‘sickness’.
The piece tries to capture my experience of isolation when ‘I don’t want to talk about it’ - choosing instead to isolate myself from others because…..
1. Words fail me
2. People generally don’t like talking about emotions or difficult ‘things’
3. I am ashamed of my depression
4. I do not want to ‘infect’ others
5. You’ll think I’m wierd
6. I don’t want to worry people
7. I don’t want to bring attention to myself
8. You’ll think I am weak
9. You’ll know I’ve been wearing a ‘mask’
10. You’ll ‘go easy’ on me/you’ll hold it against me someday.
Hence the common ‘depressive’ will rarely disclose much and will often ‘wear a mask’ to convince others (and themselves) that everything is okay when it is not.
Essentially ‘I don’t want to talk about it’ is a piece about confusion, isolation and the fear that someday the ‘mask’ might slip or begin to break-up or breakdown.
However, If you wear a ‘mask’ for long enough your greatest disguise will be found in the act of not wearing one at all - for people would barely recognise you!!!
This piece then is me briefly taking of the ‘mask’ and going incognito as the person I am - as someone who lives with chronic depression and all the shit that comes with it - before quickly recoiling back into the familiar and ‘safe’ ground of ‘I don’t want to talk about it’
I hope something good comes of this piece.
With much love
Dharmachari Dharmajit
Follow Dharmajit on Instagram at @Dharmajit_messyplay
