Jessica Haines
The Duality of Self in Reflections, © 2020 Jessica Haines
Artist Statement
Years of my life were spent struggling in silence, seemingly okay to the world but a complete wreck inside. I was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder when I was 16, the summer before my senior year of high school. Until that point, no one knew the severity of what I had been going through and even then they could never fully understand. Through this body of work I hope to show the world what that battle felt like. And I know there are many other people out there experiencing similar struggles so I hope this helps them in some way.
The reflections in the images give an inside look into my mind while on the outside I appear normal. The journal and the phrases taken from it show how I was thinking and feeling during those times. The blood splatters around the edges, created using my own blood, represent the years of self harm, which is a large factor in many mental disorders. And the photos being in black and white represent how simple things can seem when they are really much more complicated.
The Duality of Self in Reflections, © 2020 Jessica Haines
Social Issues: Student Debt
Jessica Haines
The Perfect and The Broken, © 2021 Jessica Haines
Artist Statement
I have always been the type of person that never wanted anyone to know that something was wrong. When I’m broken on the inside, I tape myself back together and put on a happy face until I’m alone. Despite having those really bad moments, I’ve also had so many really good moments. These places hold importance in my life because I’ve had some of the best and worst times in them. I don’t think those horrible times should take away from how meaningful they are to me. Many people associate bad memories to something, and they let that ruin what they once loved. You shouldn’t let bad memories ruin the things that make you happy. The good and the bad are equally important, how will you recognize the great moments unless you experience the hard times.
The Perfect and The Broken, © 2021 Jessica Haines