Foundations Studies faculty member Clara Lieu 98 IL realizes that her work can be difficult – even too intense – for some viewers. But for anyone who has struggled with depression (as she has), her images simply present a visualization of the “ugly, severe and brutal” emotions that come with the territory. 

Falling, her new series of 50 self-portrait sculptures, encapsulates the range of emotions associated with mental illness. And in a recent interview with the webzine Japan Cinema, Lieu shares how feelings of isolation, bitterness and self-punishment influence her painting, sculpture and digital media. 

Lieu’s decision to draw upon these experiences wasn’t easy, especially since mental illness is still considered taboo – even in the art world, she tells the interviewer. Fortunately, now that she has received treatment and a road to recovery, she feels she has a message worth sharing.

To see more, go to Lieu’s website.