Karen Brett

Research interests and expertise

In a society that generates an ever-increasing unhealthy and unreal perspective of what one should ‘be’ to fit in mental health awareness is paramount to disable ignorance and stigma. Through participation and inquiry I engage with others who live with complex conditions that disrupt their mental health and wellbeing such as obsessive compulsive (OCD) and body dysmorphia (BDD). 

Aesthetics of the unfamiliar, body and mind disturbances, presence and performance within the domestic space are areas that underpin my practice.  Since 2005 I have been making short films/installations that encompass ‘everyday’ living with neurological and psychological conditions. My current research concerns body integrity identity disorder (BIID) an extremely rare condition where by the sufferer feels an overwhelming urge to amputate an otherwise perfectly healthy limb.  My aims as an artist are to encourage the viewer to ‘see’ rather than just ‘look’. I use processes that problematize the ethics of exchange, representation and relationships between artist and subject to challenge conventional perceptions of ‘otherness’ through the use of photography, moving image and sound.  

I am currently creating a series of pieces that encompass ‘everyday’ living with mental health, my completed pieces so far are:

‘Conversations with Myself’ portrays a woman living with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). The complexity of the work revolves around the psychological tension that the subject creates in and around her physical space. At first glance, it seems like a ‘fly on the wall’ documentary, it is very telling in the way the piece unfolds. However, the voiceover disrupts the realism of the work and pushes it into a more profound area of representation by portraying the subject in a more conscious and intriguing way. The poignancy of the work is the fusion between the tension of the inner voice and the rhythm of the physical movements of the subject whilst moving around within their ‘own’ reality. A reality that does not exist for the majority of those outside it, looking in.

‘Horses Warped on an Altering Canvas’ is a ‘moving’ portrait of a young woman engaging in her everyday ritual of ‘mirror checking’ - a common symptom associated with body dysmorphia (BDD). The psychology behind the work evolves around the tension that can build up internally when one looks in the mirror. Therefore, the mirror acts like a switch and ‘turns on’ an obsession that is magnified by the mind's eye. Recurrent thoughts whilst this process is taking place will cause distress to the sufferer and will hinder their everyday function due to their preoccupation. Body dysmorphia causes an inaccurate view of reality, with the ‘imperfection’ being non-existent or slight.  

Research centre and group affiliations

Research topics

• Mental Health
• Video
• Photography
• Fine Art Practice
• Psychology
• Neuroscience

Areas of teaching

• Photography

Courses taught

• BA(Hons) Photography

Independent professional practice