Art to me is therapy. It can be therapy in the form of catharsis and it can be therapy in the form of escapism. The old notion of ‘art is beauty…’ – that’s escapism. And the newer notion of art as socio-political commentary – that’s catharsis. I'm compelled to make art because I, as any human being need escapism as well as catharsis.

These motives are apparent in my work. The video installation Showreel (2016). In six separate videos, I live out my childhood dream of becoming a famous actress by embodying cliché Hollywood tropes such as the “manic pixie dream girl”. These videos are displayed across six screens and accompanied by a voice-over in which I narrate the experiences and disappointments I had in my quest to pursue acting. This work was vital in my personal process of letting go of this childhood dream and that part of my identity. It was cathartic. It is also socio-political commentary in the way it highlights some of the problematic aspects of the film industry, such as the limited variety of roles available to female actors, the power imbalance between aspiring actress and film maker and the pressure to be perfect.

My latest work Portal (2018) focus on escapism. It is an immersive installation; the viewer enters a corridor made out of light fabric, which leads to a centre room in which a small mirror is placed on a plinth. In the mirror scenes from well-known films are projected, in which a character goes through a portal into another dimension or world (Alice in Wonderland, Narnia, The Secret Garden etc.). On the plinth are also a pair of headphones, from which an audio-piece is played. The audio piece consists of song, sounds and stories of experiences of other worlds through dreams, fiction and fantasy. This piece explores the idea of travelling to other worlds and dimensions through ones mind.

My work is always personal. Even when political, the work that I make always come out of personal experience. I believe that our own selves are the starting point in how we navigate through this world and try to make sense of it. One cannot understand it through someone else’s mind. And for me, art is the best tool to guide me – like an inner lighthouse on a stormy night, guiding me to safe shores.