Project Presentation
My project explores the expectation vs reality of healing through video and typography. The video contrasts the aesthetic version of healing shown on social media with the reality of mental health struggles, showing how healing has lost its meaning through online pressure and unrealistic expectations. The reality side of the video is based on my own point of view and self-experiments, showing personal experiences and emotions behind the pressure of trying to become “healed” through social media culture.
Typography across the wall beneath the video displays overwhelming phrases taken directly from social media, such as “this will fix you”, “be better”, “try this trust me”, “signs you’re depressed”, “healing era”, and “healing girl”. The repeated phrases create an intense atmosphere that reflects the pressure and emotional overload caused by online mental health culture.
At the end of the experience, the audience will be invited to anonymously write their thoughts or feelings onto post-it notes with markers and place them into a box, creating an immersive and reflective interactive element.
Final Exhibtion space
It is with deep honour,
I present this exhibition and finally bring to life the vision I had from the very beginning of the year.
From the start, I wanted to create something different, something eye-opening. I wanted to spread awareness, and I believe the media has the power to do exactly that. We are so often surrounded by ideas of perfection that we forget to look at what mental health can actually feel like beneath the surface, especially through the lens of social media.
When I first saw the exhibition space, my original vision changed completely. As I began installing the work and hanging the word Beneath, I found myself sitting in the space for hours, observing, thinking, and questioning. Something felt missing. The space needed more than simplicity.
It needed chaos.
The feeling of being surrounded by a crowd became central to the installation. I introduced layers of faces looking from behind, creating a sense of constant observation. Beneath represents the subconscious, the endless doom-scrolling, the hidden thoughts, the pressure of comparison, and the question of whether we are all simply following the phrases and expectations presented to us online.
What began as a minimalist concept evolved into something far more chaotic. The black-and-white aesthetic reflects the polished appearance of social media, while the suspended phones became a symbol of self-surveillance. This idea had been with me throughout my research process. I knew I needed something above the viewer, something watching, recording, and reminding us of our relationship with technology.
This project became an experiment in understanding the impact of media on our perceptions of ourselves and our mental well-being. Through creating this work, I challenged myself to fully commit to the process, trust my instincts, and allow the piece to evolve beyond my original plans.
I would like to thank my family, my tutors, and everyone who supported me throughout this journey.
This has truly been an incredible journey.