Katarreophobia

“Katarreophobia” is a 40-inch by 80-inch oil on canvas painting with a glass palette leaning against it. Katarreophobia is the fear of falling apart. Falling apart physically, mentally and emotionally. The fear that a moment of vulnerability could cause me to spiral. I regularly deal with both anxiety and depression. These two contrasting things could easily feed one another, and a single moment is enough to cause me to break. This painting is displayed sitting on the ground leaning against the wall to make the painting vulnerable to possible dangers. The only protection given to it is a glass palette, the same one I used while painting. This represents a response to the fear. I was afraid of patrons coming through and possibly damaging the painting while exhibited. I decided to put this glass in front as a small barrier to protect the vulnerable painting. Much like we put up walls in our persona to keep others at a distance so that we do not spiral to a breaking point. The glass, reflecting the viewer back at them, creates an illusion for the viewer where you may see the “broken glass” through the clarity and reflectiveness of glass while allowing the upper part to show the detail of my work.