ARTIST ILUSTRATES DIFFERENT MENTAL DISORDERS BY CREATING ART WITH PAPER CLIPS

In 2013, Project Semicolon began to take the world by storm in a global movement to support those who struggle with self-harm, addiction, and suicidal thoughts. As we may have seen by now, tattoos of semicolons have gone viral over the past couple of years. The humble semicolon is known for its symbol of "not the end, but a new beginning". 

Graphic designer, Eisen Bernardo, was inspired by how many people Project Semicolon reached and even helped. Now he has created his own twist on the social campaign. 

In his series #keepittogether, Bernardo uses paperclips instead of semicolons to portray mental illness and disorders. For example, in the image below, the artist depicts Bipolar disorder.

Employing the fastener in a variety of colours and compositions, Bernardo uses it as a vehicle for representing afflictions like anxiety, addiction, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. 

Bernardo groups the clips together, depending on the symptoms of the disorder or illness. Sometimes they will be meticulously arranged or, in the case of depression, left alone in the centre of the composition. 

"Through these minimalist illustrations, I hope to promote awareness and understanding of the alarming problem."

Now you might wonder why only a paperclip? Bernardo added that "A paperclip is a very simple innovation. It is just a twisted piece of metal, but it can keep things together (not permanently, though, but still). I even have a paperclip tattoo to remind myself every day that I should keep things together." 

As for his symbolic choice of the paperclip, Bernardo explains: "It has a starting point and an endpoint. There is also direction of movement that can depict how people live their lives."

Here is more of Eisen Bernardo art. 

Disclaimer: Substance abuse is depicted below. 

Dissociative Identity Disorder.

Depending on the symptoms of the disorder, the paperclips are grouped together, scattered, or are all alone.

Below the artist depicted the movement of an Eating disorder. 

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.

"I hope to promote awareness and understanding of the alarming problem."

 The last piece of art depicts Depression.