How does ballet affect mental health and self-perception? In this portfolio, I explore the depiction of fanatical dreams and sensations that demonstrate the severity of body dysmorphia on the conscious and subconscious mind. I explore how body dysmorphia infiltrates the conscious mind and imagination in everyday actions through concepts like hyperawareness, constant monitoring, and anxiety. To illustrate this, I used vibrant and contrasting colors, uncomfortable perspectives and inventive ideas to portray my sustained investigation in my works.

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I illustrated scenes of the high pressure competitive nature of ballet and the physical toll ballet takes on the body.  I also show a more realistic representation of how body dysmorphia manifests into every aspect of life, so I used design principles in each work. I incorporated vibrant vs subtle color in 6, 9 and 14, rhythm and movement in 3, 12, and 13, contrast in 2, 4, and 12, and texture in 2 and 5, to demonstrate the mental clutter ballet creates. For some, I practiced with fantasies more, for others I used more physical concepts, and for most, I used both to immerse viewers more fully.