SOLO EXHIBITION
Presented by Lisa Boudet
July 9 - 14, 2022
7 Rue Saint-Claude Paris - France
In Ayane Yamamoto’s “Unbreakable” exhibition, the artist depicts her own mental health struggles symbolized through Greek mythological figure Medusa. This body of work aims to raise awareness towards mental illness, it seeks to showcase the battle towards positive mental health and other societal constraints.
In Greek mythology, Medusa receives a curse as a punishment for something that she didn’t have control over. Leading her to transform from a beautiful woman to this horrific monster.
Yamamoto gives us a glimpse into Medusa’s everyday life. She uses the snake hair as a metaphor for being always distracted by painful or poisonous incoming thoughts.
Looking at her characters from a different angle is a reminder to consistently evaluate our own personal judgments of others. We should aim to search beyond first perceptions, to look into people’s deep and sometimes tragic history to get a fuller understanding of who they truly are.
Medusa is not alone in this battle; other characters are here depicting the multitudes facettes of combating similar struggles. Showcasing the power that each one of us has deep down even in moments of vulnerability and doubt.
Yamamoto also sheds light on our society turning a blind eye to these issues. Making us reflect on how we can better include these people and build an environment that suits everybody and not only the majority.
For this exhibition, the gallery has been transformed by using emergency blankets to cover its walls. The emergency blanket is a symbol of the first moments of salvation or rescue and becomes a shield that provides safety and protection from the elements.
You can find the Press Release and list of works here.
Learn more about Yamamoto's work in the following feature articles:
Unbreakable by Ayane Yamamoto exhibition critiques society’s response to mental illness in The Glass Magazine - Read here
A Chat About Medusa & Mental Health With Ayane Yamamoto in The Art Gorgeous - Read here
For more information about this exhibition please contact lisa@lisaboudet.com