Lost Identity
Megan Cocker
My creative piece is an acrylic painting of an individual who is representative of a carer and symbolic of how one can begin to lose one’s own identity as they devote significant time to bettering another’s quality of life:
The lack of a mouth and eyes within an expressionless and anonymous face – this loss of defining features is intended to represent a carer relinquishing the things unique to them as a person, in order to provide care.
Also, the slumped posture and holding the head in the hands is an embodied interpretation of carrying the weight of others.
For any person in the position of carer, I hope this piece of work highlights the importance of self-care and the seemingly insignificant things, which form the foundations of an individual’s personality.
Creative Assignment Prize-winner 2019 – 2020
I think this piece is of art is thought provoking as it captures the sacrifices that carers make in order to help others. I think the minimal use of colour is effective in illustrating the lack of time these individuals have for personal thoughts, emotions and activities as only the bare minimum can be given to themselves. This idea is supported by the very simple black clothes the woman is wearing – she is even unable to outwardly express herself. The strong brushstrokes in the background help convey the stress felt as they give a sense of feeling rushed and the hectic day to day around the woman. I love the symbolism of the missing eyes and mouth portraying the loss of personality, and the composition of holding the head in the hands immediately illustrates that the weight of responsibility is too heavy to carry.
What makes this piece of art so powerful is the emptiness. Focally, the lack of eyes in the centre of the image evokes a powerful loss of identity; the eyes traditionally being viewed as the window to the soul, symbolic of individuality. The way the eyelids are blurred into the rest of the face heighten the regression of the self in the carer role, also compounded by the long brush strokes and plain background colour. Despite the use of light colours and simplicity, there is a profound heaviness about the image – perhaps through the slightly slumped, defeated posture of the woman. To me it seems like the woman is trying to withdraw from the chaos behind her and regain composure, searching for a second for herself before going back to devote herself to others. This piece therefore demonstrates the selflessness and sacrifice of those in the carer role.
This piece of art is powerful and shows the loss of identity of a carer very well. The lack of colour and facial features highlights that this person has lost what can be used to identify them and what ultimately makes them an individual, like it has all been washed away under the stress of being a carer and neglecting their own self-care. Her slumped posture shows the weight she has to carry has worn her down and the chaos of patterns in the background illustrates how chaotic her day-to-day life is.
This piece of art stands out to me, as it really depicts the carer’s emotions and how looking after others sometimes prevents you from focusing on yourself. I feel that this could also relate to healthcare professionals, who are constantly putting their patients first and often don’t have time to follow their own medical advice. The lack of bright colours shows how carers have a lack of time for themselves and how they are constantly focused on the stresses of looking after someone. I feel that this painting really shows how caring for someone else can take a toll on you.