top of page
Kristina is a senior BFA photo major at GSU; her colorful and dynamic photographic work explores different coping mechanisms to reflect on how they affect emotions and growth. She interns at the Atlanta Magazine and has participated in many exhibitions, including the recent Juried show, Georgia State University Research Conference and IDEAL exhibition at GSU.
A R T I S T S T A T E M E N T
"I definitely feel as if I have a better grasp on my mental health than I have earlier in my life. In the past, I would resort to much more destructive methods in order to cope with my ADHD, depression and anxiety. Recently, in therapy, I discovered a few new healthy ways to cope with my anxiety. This made me think of all the other methods I have used to cope with my mental health issues and felt motivated to explore coping mechanisms further. I aim to document coping mechanisms that I have used, currently use, or will use in the future to cope with my own mental health issues. Photographing coping objects feels cathartic and a way of coping all on its own. This is very difficult to talk about, but an ongoing coping habit for me was to hurt myself by slamming my head into a wall, cutting my arms and legs, or burning myself with a lighter. It feels cathartic to stage these coping objects as still life against vibrant colors because it reminds me that no matter how much I enjoyed cutting as a distraction, it is a highlighted reminder of a very unhealthy way to cope. I would like this work to provoke viewers into evaluating their own coping mechanisms and to reflect on how they affect their emotions and growth."
bottom of page