Diary Drawings
Mental Illness and Me
Published on 6. May 2010
Book
Paperback/Softback
232 pages
978-1-84668-374-9 (ISBN)
Description
In 1996 the artist Bobby Baker was diagnosed as having borderline personality disorder. Her subsequent struggle to overcome severe mental and later physical illness lasted for 11 years, and was unknown to anyone outside her close family, friends and colleagues. The 158 drawings and watercolours in this book, selected by Bobby from the hundreds more that she created daily as a private way of coming to terms with her experience, are an astonishing record of her slow and harrowing journey to eventual recovery. Moving, startling, shocking and hilarious in turn, these diary drawings reveal the stark realities of living with mental illness and of society's lack of understanding.
With an introductory essay by Marina Warner, and essays by Bobby and by her daughter Dora Whittuck, a qualified clinical psychologist, this book is a rich and rewarding visual experience and a fascinating insight into the interplay between art, mental health and society.
With an introductory essay by Marina Warner, and essays by Bobby and by her daughter Dora Whittuck, a qualified clinical psychologist, this book is a rich and rewarding visual experience and a fascinating insight into the interplay between art, mental health and society.
Reviews / Votes
These witty, wretched drawings are a plea for mental illness to be treated like other illnesses, as something that happens, not something that someone, somewhere ... has to be blamed for * The Dubliner * An illuminating, hopeful book, highly recommended for anyone involved in the care, treatment or counselling of people who experience severe mental distress * Therapy Today * Her acute observations ... coupled with verbal wite, ameliorate the rawness of her anguish * The Lancet * I would go without food for a week just to get a ticket for her next show -- Nigel Slater [Praise for Bobby Baker] Exceptionally funny, Bobby Baker is a performance artist of rare quality and distinction. * Daily Telegraph * Bobby Baker, over the years has produced a remarkable - and immensely important - body of work that has uncovered secret lives and found the extraordinary in the most mundane events, from feeding the baby to going to the supermarket. * Guardian * Diary Drawings is an intimate reading and viewing experience that will appeal to readers interested in the relationship between art, therapy, and mental health. * ForeWord Reviews, USA *More details
Edition
Main
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Product notice
Paperback (UK-trade)
Dimensions
Height: 230 mm
Width: 165 mm
Thickness: 15 mm
Weight
686 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-84668-374-9 (9781846683749)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Bobby Baker is (according to various sources) a National Treasure. In a career of more than 35 years, she has danced with meringue ladies, made a lifesize cake version of her family to be eaten by visitors and driven around London strapped to the back of a truck screaming at passers-by to 'Pull Yourselves Together'. She studied painting at St Martins School of Art from 1968 to 1972, is artistic director of an Arts Council funded company, Daily Life Ltd, and has a part-time senior research fellowship at Queen Mary University of London.