Artists and Politician Highlight the Impact of Mental Ill-Health
In this exciting arts campaign, leading Highland artists and an MSP are using their own experiences to depict what the struggles of mental ill-health can look like.
They are joining users of services provided by Centred in an innovative arts project, titled Art in Mind, to highlight the issue.
We have asked people to use the models to create their artistic interpretation of mental ill-health to help raise funds for our vital work in the Highlands.
Completed works are now being exhibited as part of the Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival Highland at Eden Court Theatre, Inverness, from 29th September until 24th October.
The festival will move to Thurso from 10th November. In December, the Art in Mind mannequins will then be exhibited in the Eastgate Centre where Centred is based before being auctioned off to raise funds for the charity.
Scroll down to discover the artists and people involved and the finished pieces of art or donate now to help us support more people with mental ill-health now.
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Mannequin #1 ‘A Busy Mind’ by Michael Forbes
Renowned Black Isle-based pop surrealist Michael Forbes completed the first mannequin in the series titled ‘A Busy Mind’ which is a reflection of Michael’s own mental health journey from childhood.
Michael Forbes was admitted to Craig Dunain Hospital in Inverness aged 10, with his parents given various reasons for his behaviour. It would be another 32 years before he was diagnosed with Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD). His mannequin, entitled ‘The Busy Mind’, depicts a figure bound by tape emblazoned with the word ‘fragile’ and a head made up of a diverse range of household and other items.
“This piece depicts a mind in crisis, so please know that if you’re there now, it will pass. As much as it may seem impossible, it will pass.”
Visit Michael’s mannequin now at the Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival at Eden Court and donate to help raise funds for Centred and mental health in the Highlands.
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Mannequin #2 ‘Grief’ by Rona Kant
Well respected contemporary and colourful artist Rona Kant, based in the Scottish Highlands completed the second mannequin titled ‘Grief’ which is a reflection of Rona’s personal experiences.
Rona’s colourful painting style of the Cairngorms can be clearly seen on the mannequin which forms part of the Centred arts project, titled Art in Mind, to highlight the issue of mental ill-health.
Starting at her feet she’s debilitated and feels as though she’s wading through treacle. Time passes and she feels as if she’s being thrown about in a tumultuous highland river, bashing against the rocks, tumbling and being thrown about, with water crashing over her head but she’s keeps moving. Eventually she reaches the calm tranquillity of a highland loch surrounded by Scots pine trees and soaring mountains. She looks up into the sky and feels the sun. Finally, she can smile and remember. Rona’s mannequin depicts the journey from her feet in mud right up to the sun in her face.
Visit the mannequin now at the Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival at Eden Court and donate to help raise funds for Centred and mental health in the Highlands.
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Mannequin #3 ‘Temptation & Regret’ by Monette Walker
Monette is one of our drop-in peers at the Discovery College in Inverness. She visits us regularly and with her natural creative and artistic flair, we thought Monette would be perfect to transform her own mannequin using her own personal inspiration.
Her finished piece shows a mannequin painted black with handprints on his body, spikes on his head, face and arms and with a snake wrapped around the mannequin’s neck.
To Monette this symbolises Caught Red Handed.
Visit Michael’s mannequin now at the Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival at Eden Court and donate to help raise funds for Centred and mental health in the Highlands.
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Mannequin #4 Stone Stories by Lisa Poulsen
Based in Thurso, Caithness, Lisa is a digital artist who creates limited edition landscape artworks using photographs of stone. Lisa invited people to send in photos of stones to decorate ‘Maggie the mannequin’ with, and the option to anonymously share photo locations and how taking part impacted their mental wellbeing.
Hundreds of photos were received from coastlines, streets, monuments and gardens around the world (from Australia to Caithness) alongside stories of mental health experiences. Each photo was printed on vinyl, cut and applied to the mannequin by hand.
95% of participants reported a positive impact to their mental wellbeing after looking for stones and connecting more deeply with nature.
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Mannequin #5 ‘The Meaning of Mental Health’ by Room 13 Studios
Young artists, staff, parents and carers attending the Monday afternoon session for young adults in Room 13 Studios had a conversation about what mental health means to them. .
A blank mannequin was provided by Centred’s Lochaber Support Service for the project. As a group, they came up with a list; inner peace, outer peace, connection, creativity, exercise, being outside. Many of those in the group find outdoor activities to be very beneficial to their mental health, as well as being in different environments like the coast, the forest, fields or hills. Art and creativity is what brings everyone together in Room 13, where we draw, paint, make, build, design, collaborate, edit and share our work.
This collaborative Lochaber piece depicts the benefits of the outdoors for mental wellbeing.
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Mannequin #6 ‘A Body of Work’ by Emma Roddick MSP
Emma Roddick is a SNP politician and has been a Member of the Scottish Parliament for Highlands and Islands since 2021. She was one of the youngest candidates seeking election, and the youngest MSP elected. She is also a trustee for Centred charity.
Emma has first-hand experience of mental ill-heath and has been instrumental in speaking out to the Scottish Parliament to ensure that when mental health is being debated politicians are not just speaking in the vague terms of anxiety and depression but considering conditions beyond this.
Emma explained the influence for her finished piece “The physical impacts of anxiety and depression can be debilitating, but with the right support, his mind can still imagine, do, and create beautiful things.”
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