Mady Sieracki Fine Artist

With those who suffer from mental illness it can be like trying to untangle oneself from the roots of a tree, unsure of how to approach it. It is a duality of the mind, one part wanting to find a healthy structure in life and the other part clinging to the negative aspect of the mind and letting unhealthy thoughts or actions take over. It becomes difficult to keep a positive state of mind while being aware of what can trigger bad thoughts and feelings. The image of a door is there and one can see it but cannot open the door and walk through it and transition into another mental state. Sometimes it feels as though it would be easier to submit to darker side of oneself but doing so is detrimental to oneself and others. This body of work explores the dualism between oneself through the struggle to find peace of mind through the use of light and shadow to represent which side is more prominent. A home is supposed to be a place of calm and comfort but it can also be a prison for their mind, the room is a jail cell where time alone can lead to falling deeper into oneself. Mirrors, doors, and windows can lead to another world, a transition into another state of mind. In this new state of mind is a sacred space where one is free to explore and enjoy, but even then there’s a creeping thought in the back of the mind trying to pull them back. It’s a continuous fight for power between the light and the dark­­ but it is also a continuous battle for balance.