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Art inspires wellbeing exchanges

Curating an art exhibition in Dunedin this week for mental health are (from left) Jonny Waters,...
Curating an art exhibition in Dunedin this week for mental health are (from left) Jonny Waters, Prudence Jopson and Elliot Phillips. Behind them is a work titled Maniototo, by Hahna Read. The Response Received exhibition in Princes St finishes at 4pm today.PHOTO: GREGOR RICHARDSON
Art has again been used to inspire conversations about mental health — and they have been flowing in Dunedin.

More than 75 artists contributed artwork to the Responses Received exhibition that has run through Mental Health Awareness Week in the city.

That was complemented by a performance evening yesterday, featuring speeches, music and dancing.

One of the exhibition curators, Elliot Phillips, said the evening provided a platform for people to talk about their experiences and hurdles they had overcome.

It also gave people a chance to listen to and identify with the experiences of other people.

Responses Received followed last year’s Call & Response exhibition, which was focused on men’s mental health.

The curators broadened the scope this year to include everyone in Dunedin.

Mr Phillips said the aim was to help break down stigmas.

The event had grown from last year and people were becoming more open in engaging in korero about mental health, he said.

The exhibition at 23 Princes St is raising money for the Otago Mental Health Support Trust and Wellness, Empathy, Kindness Aotearoa (Weka).

It finishes at 4pm today.

 

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