A NEW ‘wearable’ art installation about dark thoughts and poor mental health, which has been co-created by men in Redditch, will be on display at the Kingfisher Centre this weekend.
The artwork is designed to immerse the wearer in the physical sensations connected with poor mental health and thoughts of self-harm, with the focus about boosting wellbeing by making and creating something new, while being accepted as part of a group.
‘Send Suicide Packing’ is a Community Makers commission from Reimagine Redditch, led by AHead of Wellbeing (AHoW) Community Interest Company (CIC).
The project originates from conversations with AHoW’s men’s mental health groups whose idea it was to make real and tangible the almost physical burden that poor mental health and thoughts of suicide have upon an individual.
The immersive artwork has been co-created by multimedia artist Ben Adamson, photographer Caitlin Flatley, men from Redditch, and local men’s group Where Men Meet.
The installation has been inspired by, and evolved through, a series of creative workshops this winter and spring, including one highly active session dubbed ‘The Destruction of the Mannequins’.
Redditch has the highest suicide rate in Worcestershire and suicide is the biggest killer of men in the UK under 50.
Brenda Morrison-Webb, founding director and therapist at AHoW, said: “We know the word suicide is almost taboo.
“However, we need to change that.
“This is what fuels this unique interactive experience.
“The opportunity to bring in artists to work with our men has been amazing, challenging them to expand and stretch their ideas.
“The workshops provided a creative release for anger, frustration and painful thoughts and were a vital means of expressing those dark feelings.
“But it’s been great fun for everyone, too.”
Ben added: “We had so many ideas to choose between – from wobbly bikes to stretchy men, but we all agreed the idea of making the audience central to the experience was a good one.
“We’ve really enjoyed our sessions together, discussing thoughts and feelings, and particularly the live artwork sessions where we distressed materials together for the final piece.
“It’s been a real privilege to work with them.”
The exhibition will be located by The Range inside the Kingfisher Centre from 10am to 3pm tomorrow (Saturday, March 22).
