Depression hurts, but faking happy hurts more.

1 in 5 young adults in America deal with the symptoms of depression, anxiety, and other mental illnesses every day.

Depression and Anxiety effects everyone, and over 20% of Americans have personal experience with mental illness. Most of these people are not the troubled, young white woman that our society has diagnosed to be the mascot for depression and anxiety. Many of these young people are men and women of color; some who are trapped in poor, violent environments.

To bring light to this harsh statistic, an exhibition of 30 commanding, loud, and deeply personal pieces was held in the formally named 840 gallery, all in effort to create a new depiction of depression. These pieces also illustrated the nuanced complexities of being a man of color with feelings in America. The art showcased ranged from remarkable photography to hand-embroidered work, to interactive sculpture. The maximalistic use of orange contrasts the “blue mood” that comes with depression. This contrast illustrates the so-called “happy face” that many have to put on every day.

There is a book that is created in parallel to the exhibition. Of the same name, this photo book contains images that were not exhibited and written pieces that correspond to the work shown. The book is for sale here.