The exhibition Love Bears All Things consisted of ceramic sculptures and an installation, explores life as a family member of someone with mental health challenges. The theme is rooted in my personal experiences and the roles I inhabit: an observer, a supporter, and someone who also receives support. My husband has a bipolar disorder, and his illness impacts our life together. The artworks in this exhibition are based on conversations I have had with him, and he has actively participated in the filming and editing of the video for the Cycle installation. In the works, the Minotaur represents my husband, while I am portrayed as a platypus.

In the Tile Gallery, three works were exhibited that reflect the limitations imposed by mental illness. People often build insurmountable barriers in their minds, and a safe home can become a prison of the mind. The Cycle installation, displayed in the Cellar Gallery portrays an endless journey through anxiety, insomnia, and restlessness—symptoms my husband has identified as recurring cycles in his condition. These symptoms follow each other in a relentless loop, as asymptomatic periods are always followed by symptomatic periods.

Also in the Cellar Galleries were works examining my role as a family member. While support from a loved one is crucial, it is equally important to maintain one’s own functionality. Mental illness often takes my husband into deep waters, and I need to remain present while also learning to let go. Inevitably,difficult phases pass, but despite knowing that his illness and the episodes are not caused by my actions or inactions, it is easy to fall into self-blame. I believe every family member of someone with mentalhealth challenges struggles with this at times. On the Small Stage, the series of Bearing - in three parts - explored mutual support in relationships. Mental illness is just on aspect of partnership. In an equal relationship, both partners support each other raciprocally. Illness does not change this.