Artist Statement // What if people with mental illnesses were venerated for their supposed 'spiritual insights' rather than stigmatised? The proliferation of unskilled and unqualified spirituality coaches online, particularly on Instagram, has spurred a counter movement. A number of legitimate spiritual practitioners are now using their platforms to debunk pseudo-spiritual dogma. I found myself consuming their content with a perverse sense of glee. Under their critical gaze, phrases such as 'divine feminine' and 'manifesting abundance' became sinister, giving clues about the ideologies of the coaches who used them. I found similarities between the claims they made and the delusions that can accompany manic episodes. Mania can induce fantasies of unlimited wealth and beliefs that the sufferer has access to divine powers. My experience of bipolar mania is that of a seductive, mystical force that must be resisted with the help of medication and stress management. The increase in energy, positive emotion and productivity that accompanies mania can make it difficult to recognise it as the symptom of an illness. In a world where self improvement intersects with commerce, what parts of ourselves are exploited? And what parts do we exploit for financial gain?

Makeda Duong is a visual artist living and working on Kaurna land. Since 2013 she has exhibited locally and interstate, undertaken a residency at Nexus Arts, and taken part in advisory work with Guildhouse. She has also participated in two mentorships, with local artists Sera Waters as part of a Helpmann Academy emerging artist mentorship, and with Cheryl Hutchens as part of the Nexus Arts Residency. Her work has been acquired by the Adelaide Migration Museum, and she was the winner of the 2020 Don Dunstan Foundation SALA Award, and the 2022 Gallery M Contemporary Art Prize. Her current practice attempts to unravel and represent aspects of her lived experience in relation to themes such as race, gender, and mental health.

@makedaduong
makedaduong.com

Sasha Grbich writes about Makeda Duong in Neoterica 2024.

Makeda Duong, Bipolar Guru, 2024, handknitted wool, paper mache, sequins, epoxy,119 cm x 110 cm. Sam Roberts Photography.