mentalhealth.org.nz > Media Grants > Past Fellows > Kristian Lomath (creative)

Seclusion circle series

The artist

Kristian Lomath is a Rotorua-based artist with experience of mental illness. He attended Ilam Art School, University of Canterbury, for three years before combining part-time work with painting. From 2002 to 2004, he took the leap full time into art and has worked as an artist ever since. He's had two art exhibitions - one exhibition was in Rotorua and one was in Auckland.

(Photo courtesy of the Daily Post)

The project: Seclusion circle series

Kristian's project is an installation of original art, which allows visitors a first hand experience of seclusion in it's many forms as well as exploring Kristian's experience of depression, self-discovery and recovery as an artist.

"Artists work in self-determined areas of seclusion," he says. "So the work being exhibited as part of this project is about communicating what it is like for the painter as he delves into his world of seclusion and the traps that come with that territory.

"It's about taking the artist's journey and giving visitors a glimpse of that experience."

Kristian's instllation allows visitors to physically engage with the exhibition pieces by walking through, around and into the ‘painter's wheel'. There are twelve, three-metre-high, double-sided, painted panels, that allow visitors to reflect on the images.

"There are also three dimensional art pieces and filmed narratives from the artists talking about their personal experiences and their art," says Kristian.

Kristian says the project developed organically and over time drew the interest and participation of five other local artists - computer analyst/writer Malcolm Hore, potter/sculptor George Andrews, photographer Yvonne Westra, writer, artist and musician Barbara O'Reilly and designer Anna Revell - who each contributed a panel that reflects their own experience of mental illness.

"I was pleased the project inspired others to add to the installation, and with the interest from Malcolm, George, Yvonne, Barbara and Anne as well as many others, it has truly been a community project," he says.

The artists hope that this interaction between the project and the public will help break down some of the stigma and discrimination surrounding the subject of mental distress.

"What I would like people to walk away with," says Kristian, "Is the knowledge that it is possible to live with mental illness - and that you can pursue your dreams and be successful."