Jonah Srulevich

Artist Statement

I explored mental health disorders and the effects they can impose on life. Utilizing color and digital photography, I presented different concepts and messages by changing the hues and tones of color used. With every stark change in color, an emotional impact of equal value is produced.

Each of the images tell their own story; within each story is a long process of practice, experimentation and revision. Originally, I started the sustained investigation with the intention of representing mental health in general through color. While I took images for both positive and negative moods with the same colors, I quickly realized that I found much more purpose in creating artwork to spread awareness of the negative aspects of poor mental health. Additionally, each of these images went under heavy editing in Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop. The enhanced colors further each picture’s message, and the editing process allowed me the flexibility to add additional meanings to each.

In the end, mental health disorders grow more prominent every day. Some of the ideas I explore include feelings of being trapped from anxiety, being physically affected from depression, and failing to see any positive parts of life anymore, even when light is present. Mental health disorders like depression and anxiety are growing more prominent each day and I tried to spread some awareness of this through my sustained investigation.