Approved: 09.06.2017

Sam Cadman

Artist

Archived
Approved: 09.06.2017

Sam Cadman believes that there is a connection between a creative mind and mental illness. People who are creative may experience anxiety or depression, but anxiety and depression don’t necessarily give rise to a creative mind.

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  • Location: Swansea, Wales

Artist Statement

Sam Cadman believes that there is a connection between a creative mind and mental illness. People who are creative may experience anxiety or depression, but anxiety and depression don’t necessarily give rise to a creative mind.

The romantic notion that mental illness and creativity are linked is so prominent in the public eye that it is rarely challenged.

Sam’s work explores the experience of mental illness from the perspective of whether you are more likely to self-neglect when suffering. What does self-neglect mean in this context and how is it perceived by society?

Through the use of photography and film as his medium, Sam’s work documents a personal journey of mental illness, attempting to capture the invisible pain found within mental illness, as visible, through private performances.

He does not try to hide or romantize the reality of living with anxiety and depression, but rather challenged and exposed the notion that living with mental illness is a ‘romantic concept’ associated with artists and the art world. He has attempted to document the reality of living with a mental illness which can lead to introversion, self-reflection and low self-esteem, challenging who we are, what our self-worth is and our ability to contribute to society.

CV & Education

CV