Expressing Emotion

Throughout this Body of work I have focused my studio practice on ‘Expressing ones Emotions’.  

I have been interested to find out how one deals with their emotion, whether it is by being creative or verbal.

As I enjoy interacting with my audience as part of the process within my work, I asked people via a social networking site to participate.

I asked many individuals to answer a question regarding their emotion via survey monkey which would make all comments anonymous. I asked for them to write a few sentences about a particular emotion they would like to share, good or bad. It could be explaining a story or experience they have had, or just a strong emotion they are feeling at this current time and why they feel that way.
I explained the more powerful the emotion the better, as If they were happy with me presenting these comments within my work, I would like others to relate to the story and understand the emotion the individual has been feeling.
I had a great response from this and received 30 extremely personal and unique comments within a few days.

Here are some of them displayed below:

A couple years ago now my mum was diagnosed with aggressive great cancer and have to have surgery to remove it! During this time I experienced so many emotions... First I was angry with the world, why my mum? Then I was devastated and scared of losing the most important person in my life... What would I do without her? Then after the surgery, mum underwent chemo where she soon had amazing news the cancer had gone! There was an overwhelming sense of relief that actually everything was going to be ok... Now I am so grateful she is still here with me

Several years ago I had to make the hardest decision of my life, I found out I was pregnant and at the time I didn’t feel ready or in a stable place to have a family. In the end I decided to have an abortion, the hospital appointments and conversations with doctors seemed serial like I was watching it happen to someone else. After the procedure I still felt numb like nothing had happened, just an operation. As the weeks went by it started to sink in and I began to think about it all the time and feel confused and wondering if I did the right thing. I used to think why should I be alive after the choice I made to take someone’s life it didn't and still doesn't seem fair. The emotions I felt during this time were regrets, confusion, anger, pain, upset, guilt and many more. The guilt and pain are still here today and I think about it quite a lot. sometimes I just feel like I need to be alone and I keep it bottled up because it was so long ago I don't know who to talk to or people to think bad of me as everyone has a different opinion. I don't think I have really dealt with this emotion or if I ever will it will be with me forever.

I have never felt as sad as when my dog of 8 years had to be put down in front of me, he was always so strong and buoyant but when he got to sick he lost so much weight, all the happiness had gone from his eyes and he just lay there, when the vet came to lethally inject him his last ounce of strength was so powerful, I had to listen as his last barks turned into whimpers and then silence, as he lay there cold and still. I'd never felt intense emotional sadness like that before, not even when my father died.

My emotion was mixed and confusing as 2 years ago I started having feelings towards a girl. I never felt them with any other girl other than this one and I still don't. Having to tell my family and close friends how I felt was hard as I've only ever liked boys and I wasn't sure if it was just because we became close and we got On Well. So telling people was hard as I didn't understand it myself luckily my close friends and family understood and support me through whatever! It still confuses me as I don't look at girls in that way apart from her and if we ever split up then I wouldnt get with another girl! People judge me but that's life and I'm happy how things are.

I've recently came out of a long relationship & at the moment it feels like the worst thing in the world. It hurts just to get up in the morning because you have to spend the whole day thinking about the person you love but can't be with. It feels like your missing apart of you. I keep reassuring myself that it will get better & everything happens for a reason. Heartbreak is one of the worst feelings to have.

I've recently been given an opportunity that will pretty much change my life. I'm just debating which way to go! I've been with my partner for over 4 years and we have a house, car and now a puppy together! Well I'd like to say I'm happy how I am but I've changed many jobs and still not doing what I thought I would be doing. So I wouldn't say I'm at my happiest I could potentially be. I've been given the chance to do my Forensic Degree with a guaranteed job at the end of it. Forensic scientist is my dream job and you can probably tell I was EXTREMELY excited to receive the news. I told my partner and yeah he was happy for me but I could tell there was something he wasn't keen on. If I take the opportunity I have to move to London. He doesn't want to move to London. Now I'm feeling 2 different emotions and I really don't know how I should feel! One part of me is I suppose selfish and all I want to do is take the opportunity that I'm really excited about and potentially lose EVERYTHING I have now. Which makes me feel both upset and confused. The other side of me is how I typically am. A selfless person. I stay how I am now, just to please other people. Pretend that I'm living the happy perfect life when actually I'm just comfortable and really want to do this for myself. Basically my emotions are all over the place! I know I should be happy and excited but I'm feeling guilty and confused.