Peisley Memoir

I have received therapeutic support since I was 18 from experiences and study I believe I have a broad understanding of the influence trauma has on my creative practice. I used to believe that my art work took me closer to an unvarnished truth but I realised through studying trauma specifically and recent research that I was using my creativity to stay safe, remain hidden and control anxiety and depression.

Most helpful to me has been the work done by Richard Swartz ( Internal Family System) who sees the individual to be made up of parts. To get a complete picture of anyone there must be compassion and understanding of all parts. Some of my parts are more active than others, especially when tested. They come to the fore repeatedly and ask to be witnessed. I take these parts seriously and have used drawing and writing to give them a forum to properly manifest. My memoir notes are a reflection of these ‘rooms’ where my parts show themselves. I don’t say that this is an exact translation or truth ,although I have tried to work from memory, but in the fog that obscures memory there is ‘my truth’ as I saw it as a child, or as I see it now. It is the way of an artist, poet or musician to use everything to give timbre to the re telling of an experience.

I feel that I have gone close to the burning wire of subjects which put or have put me at risk. After many years of depression and anxiety I feel it is better for me to move towards the jugular of the fear rather than evade it and my work accompanies me and the viewer safely to these places.