For this project I intend to explore the history of mental asylums, particularly in 1960. I analyse the patients of such mental institutes and compare them to people suffering from similar disabilities in modern day. From this research, I intend to produce a set of images and supporting text that work together to challenge the ideologies of psychology from the 1960's. In particular I will touch upon how people effected by these mental illnesses were treated by family, neighbours and the media. From first look into researching this theme I have already come across painter Richard Dadd, and the film 'Sybil' which should help me to begin further research.

I will use this blog to present my the my finding via Primary and Secondary research. I will also use it to conclude what I have found and how I will apply it to my practice.

Thursday, 27 March 2014

Ian Breakwell: The Elusive State of Happiness


"Ian Breakwell was an artist and writer; a man with an eye for seeing the extraordinary in the ordinary."
He was best known of his diary project which he kept up throughout the entirety of his career. He was recognised through a wide audience due to his diverse range of artistic mediums, including:
  • Film
  • Video
  • Television
  • Photography
  • Writing 


I picked out Breakwells work to look at because it inspired me on two different levels. Concept and presentation. In my project proposal I stated that I wanted to take 10 - 15 final photographs which worked alongside text in order to portray meaning. Breakwells work is interesting because it combines anywhere from 15 to 150 images together. The repetition is extraordinary and makes your eye go a little funny, darting from image to image with not one face that draws you in initially. 

Not only does he do this but he uses text in a multitude of ways so that despite the continuity between ideologies of his pieces everything is different. For instance in one set, the text could be the pièce de résistance, a small box of words. Whereas in another it could be the basis of the entire piece, a photograph being the little eye catcher. 



Breakwells approach of combining text and imagery is inspiring and definitely something I am going to consider when I start brainstorming presentation idea's.

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