Marisa Companion explores chronic illness, mental health and gender tropes. Hypersensium is presenting Marisa in the context of mental resilience through creativity and empathy in the art communities.
Do you remember the moment you realised you had to express your challenges visually? Did you feel comfortable expressing your vulnerability?
I remember this moment. In the beginning I was recording photographs of my health crisis. I knew I needed to do something more to convey the experience I was having. That is when painting seemed to make the most sense. There was a 4-year gap of just trying to survive my health crisis before I was able to paint. The photos allowed me to capture until that moment. I feel comfortable about expressing my vulnerability. I know that sounds weird coming from a culture that emphasises showing your “best self”. Im not really interested in that with my work. The work is a love letter to everyone who has felt very vulnerable and like an outsider.
The “IM. MORTAL” paintings are almost a tribute to the strength of the community of people with chronic illness. Such an important way of social activism, in our opinion. Do you feel there is enough support in the artistic community when it comes to health?
Depends. In the art world as a whole absolutely not. In the small communities and organisations, I believe it is starting to be. Artists and creators are beginning to place the importance of supporting underrepresented people. I still think it is going to be a while before we see this on a grand scale, but movements like Black Lives Mater are an integral part of this.
What was it like evolving as an artist and processing a personal trauma around your struggles with a brain tumour? Has there ever been a moment that you felt alien to the world or have you always been conscious that you are much much more than your illness?
It was healing. The process was a way for me to have control over the experiences I go through. Ha Ha I think I feel alien to the world often but it doesn’t bother me, it’s my way of having radical self-acceptance. I think at the same time I know I’m more then my illness, I keep going and doing what I can everyday and that makes me feel human.
Colours that you use in many of your paintings are very saturated, it is empowering. What artist would you reference as a major inspiration on your creative journey?
So so many but currently I have been loving Kerry James Marshall. He is an amazing black American painter that is political, poignant and colourful in his work.
Your work series “Judging you Judging Us” highlight in a very playful manner the inhumanity of the beauty standards. Would you say that you are on good terms with your visual self at the moment? And is art assisting you with that?
I think there are good days for me with my visual self and bad days. Art is more defining how I feel about beauty standards. How I don’t feel good about looking at overly flowery art but I enjoy the grit and the underbelly much more. I suppose it helps me enjoy those things in myself a bit more.
On your website you mentioned Carl Jung and his concept of the Shadow being of a major influence on your work. How, in your opinion, can one achieve a complete self-acceptance? Would you, perhaps, give any advice based on your personal experience?
I wish I knew the answer to that. I think what can lead you there is the work of looking inward. Accessing the stuff, you don’t want to see and examine. The way I did it was through painting, but there is lots of ways to achieve this. My advice is to not shame yourself, but instead try to understand who you are as a whole.