“What truly is logic? Who decides reason? [...] It is only in the mysterious equations of love that any logic or reason can be found.”
-John Nash
A Frontier Unexplored By the Vessels of my Mind:
Understandably, I've gotten some slightly surprised reactions to the topic that I have chosen. At first glance, and when taken at surface value, "schizophrenic art" by a man obsessed with cats seems a little bit too eccentric- even by the "Rachael standard". However, just as schizophrenia has many different layers, and how abstract art requires a deep understanding and ability to analyze- I wanted to use those rhetorical strategies to help symbolize that my topic is much more than it appears to be. Is it that those whom we consider "normal" that are truly crazy? Or Furthermore, is it simply that those whom we consider "crazy" are merely more enlightened than the average person? The vast world of both art and schizophrenia prove to us that was is real and what is not, and what is normal and what is insane, is merely a matter of perception.
My goal for this site is for readers to take away a broader and more expansive understanding of reality- or lack thereof- and the realization that the majority of those who suffer from mental illness have been some of the most brilliant minds that man has been blessed with.
I personally have always had a strong passion for art and its history. I love and appreciate the beauty that can be portrayed in so many various entities and mediums for all different styles of art. I generally tend to prefer more abstract, surreal works, admiring the work of artists such as Salvador Dali. I had originally began researching the topic of schizophrenia, as psychology is what I plan to study over the course of the next eight years of my life. I've had numerous close people in my life that have/do suffer(ed) from various mental illnesses, so naturally learning about it has become a passion of mine. Whilst researching the disease, I stumbled upon an artist named Louis Wain. He was mentioned as the "father of art done by schizophrenics", which immediately grabbed my attention. His surrealistic and abstract drawings immediately captivated my focus- and not to mention, his primary subject, cats, are my favorite animal. Suddenly I had found the perfect combination of cats, mental illness, and art. I felt that there was no other logical alternative.
My goal for this site is for readers to take away a broader and more expansive understanding of reality- or lack thereof- and the realization that the majority of those who suffer from mental illness have been some of the most brilliant minds that man has been blessed with.
I personally have always had a strong passion for art and its history. I love and appreciate the beauty that can be portrayed in so many various entities and mediums for all different styles of art. I generally tend to prefer more abstract, surreal works, admiring the work of artists such as Salvador Dali. I had originally began researching the topic of schizophrenia, as psychology is what I plan to study over the course of the next eight years of my life. I've had numerous close people in my life that have/do suffer(ed) from various mental illnesses, so naturally learning about it has become a passion of mine. Whilst researching the disease, I stumbled upon an artist named Louis Wain. He was mentioned as the "father of art done by schizophrenics", which immediately grabbed my attention. His surrealistic and abstract drawings immediately captivated my focus- and not to mention, his primary subject, cats, are my favorite animal. Suddenly I had found the perfect combination of cats, mental illness, and art. I felt that there was no other logical alternative.