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Durban Art Gallery presents CHAPTER 2: Empathy & Hope Project
Durban Art Gallery presents CHAPTER 2: Empathy & Hope Project
"The exhibition was born from my own experiences of people struggling with their emotional and mental health. I've seen the devastation of hopelessness in the eyes of loved ones, friends and strangers and the inhumanity caused by the lack of empathy towards those struggling with mental illness every day," explains project originator, global mental health advocate and social impact entrepreneur, Chantelle Booysen.
From the inside looking out: The body of work called Paradise, by the late Thabiso Sekgala, depicts a severe and sincere sense of loneliness of space, structures and a void of human connection. From the outside looking in: The body of work called Nyope, by Lindokuhle Sobekwa captures the rawness of drug abuse in the community where he grew up in. When the outside seeps in: refers to a participatory photographic exercise with young students from a Refugee Centre in the Durban area to get young people to think of their physical environment and it can influence the health of their minds. Exhibits include a series of photographs taken by Obakeng Molepe for the Denis Hurley Centre of homeless people last year in his Homeless 101 project.
Empathy for all: is an audio-visual installation shot by photographer Robin Hammond which is focused on a collection of stories which is related to the devastating loss of 150 people that was removed from a government psychiatric hospitals due to neglect and disregard for human life. The installation covers the stories of victims of families and survivors.
"My hope this that this exhibition creates more visual conversation on mental health and mental illness as subjects to be depicted in a humane, empathetic way. This can be one such space, one where everyone can share openly. Creating hope for the hopeless and empathy towards people living with mental illness - that is, fundamentally, what this project is about. As a mental health activist, my work with both local and international organisations informed many of the themes in this exhibition. But it is my personal experience with mental illness that drives me to keep this conversation alive and to create platforms for others to thrive," concluded Booysen.
The exhibition opens on Thursday, 12 March at 18.00pm at the Durban Art Gallery on Smith Street, 2nd Floor, City Hall in Durban City Centre. For further details contact Jenny Stretton 031 3112264/031 3327286.
Gallery hours: Monday-Saturday 8:30 to 16:00 Sundays 11:00-16:00.
Please contact empathyhopeproject@gmail.com for any queries.