“How Do You Feel?” reveals the genuine and raw emotions triggered by mental illnesses. Struggles with mental health may not be apparent. Describing the pervasive and piercing emotions can be difficult. I realized from a young age that there was a lack of vocabulary and communication available to address mental health and to describe the feelings associated with it. The lack of word choices to describe these emotions is due to the seemingly universal lack of acknowledgement of mental illnesses. Their invisible nature hinders the realization that it is a commonality.

Each vessel is a portrait of a person who allowed me to interview them to understand how their lives are affected by mental illness. I use ceramics as the medium to communicate these interviews and experiences to a greater audience. Thrown on the wheel, an act that requires a concentration and connection with the clay, these vessels are shaped and altered to tell personal stories. Each piece consists of two separate vessels. The outside acts as a protective barrier, concealing the buried emotions the interior represents. The inside vessel conveys what I see as a true representation of those difficult emotions we hide away or try to keep quiet.  Although there are cracks and breaks on the surface of the outer vessel, the only way to see inside requires peering intimately into the double-walled vessels. The mirror behind each vessel serves as a gateway into the personal stories and sentiments shared by the individual. This space becomes a place for an exchange of experiences, where the societal pressure to maintain an appearance breaks down.

These ceramic vessels reflect both personal and universal narratives. Each one shares an individual story, but as a group, the experiences and the viewer are not isolated or alone. I am sharing with the community the intimate trust my interviewees gave to me while sharing their stories and creating their portraits. Acting as an exchange and recognition of shared and personal experiences, these vessels strive to expand the communication about mental health.