Collecting Thoughts

“Collecting Thoughts portrays the artist who is hiding his face with hands coming up from his chest. This powerful imagery conveys a deep psychological disturbance associated with the psychosis of feeling like you have hands touching your body all the time, a common symptom of schizophrenia and related disorders. The man’s hands covering his face also reflect a desire to hide his emotions, which is another common symptom of this disorder.

The background of the drawing is a collage of text that is difficult to read, as if it represents the clouded thoughts of the man in the foreground. The text is divided into three phases: the first phase describes why the artist lives and what he lives for, the second phase describes his fascination with a self-made religion, and the third and longest phase is an analysis of the 1982 film Koyaanisqatsi.

The inclusion of the film analysis is particularly striking, as it suggests that the man in the drawing is trying to make sense of the world around him, but is unable to do so in a coherent way. The film Koyaanisqatsi is known for its surreal and abstract imagery, which is perhaps why it resonates with the man in the drawing. The film’s title is a Hopi word meaning “life out of balance”, which could be interpreted as a metaphor for the man’s mental state.

Overall, the meaning behind the drawing is a poignant commentary on the experience of mental illness. The man is depicted as being trapped within his own mind, struggling to make sense of his surroundings and his emotions. The text in the background represents the tangled and confused thoughts that can accompany mental illness, and the film analysis suggests that the man is searching for some kind of meaning or coherence in his life. Ultimately, the drawing is a powerful and empathetic representation of the challenges faced by those who live with mental illness.”

“Some look lethal at the prospect of being on the big screen, some glance furtively away and others are thankful to be seen at all”

Original drawing

The frame is an old frame bought in a thrift store

Handdrawn with pen on white drawing paper 110

Size 48 x 69 cm

Size frame 60 x 80 cm

Hand-signed by the artist