These are paintings of Highland Park, Los Angeles, based on photos I took during my “depression walks” in 2020-2023. Each image captures a scene that jolted me out of my rumination and granted a moment of curiosity, humor, or gratitude. The glowing colors behind heavy dark shapes are intended to convey a sense of shimmering possibility, and the potential of the physical environment to transform our emotional landscape. My intention was also to put difficult experiences into a broader historical context- in this case, the "stupid little walks" meme reflects increasing public concern and self-disclosure about mental health & isolation in the age of social media & the pandemic. To that end, the exhibition also prompted visitors to document their own walking reflections in an interactive journal for others to experience.
