Brain injury sufferers turned artists recently exhibited their work at London’s Barbican Center. Yokabet Mekuria was one of the artists whose work was displayed at the Barbican. She painted a self-portrait in bright hues.
“With the colors, I suppose it’s like to say I’m joyful, I’m not hiding in the background anymore, I’m here,” Mekuria remarked. “To actually see myself here is unbelievable because I never thought I would be here,” she shared.
The creative process has served as a form of rehabilitation for artists like Mekuria who displayed their work here.
The “Differently Various” exhibition was the product of a four-year collaboration between the Barbican Arts Center and the charity Headway, which helps people with brain disabilities recover control of their lives via music and the arts, according to Africa News.
Despite the fact that the artists’ injuries have permanently affected their lives, the artworks on display at Differently Various honor survival and the strength of those who inspired them. According to studies, one-third of brain injury survivors are diagnosed with depression during the first year of their injury. As a result, many people find new ways to live, often via the use of art. According to experts, art can aid in healing in a variety of ways, including improving cognitive capacities and soothing emotional turmoil.
Watch the video of the London exhibition below: