Dama Gallery is pleased to announce "Funny Pharm," an evocative solo exhibition by Clarisse Casalino. This collection features ten meticulously crafted collages that interrogate the paradoxical landscape of pediatric mental health treatment and its enduring impact into adulthood.

"Funny Pharm" transcends mere artistic expression, offering a profound commentary on the often ironic trajectory of mental health care. Casalino employs an innovative collage technique, utilizing the very medication labels that map her own therapeutic journey. Each composition is a testament to the relentless and often Sisyphean nature of seeking mental equilibrium. The materiality of these collages, embedded with the ephemera of Casalino’s lived experience, creates a tactile narrative of resilience and introspection.

Casalino’s works delve into her tumultuous childhood, characterized by extreme emotional fluctuations. Recollecting her early years, she conjures vivid imagery of a young girl oscillating between euphoric highs and debilitating lows, her life a metaphorical theme park. These visceral experiences are captured through dynamic visual metaphors within her collages, where the chaotic arrangement of labels parallels the disorderly mental states she endured.

Her parents, recognizing her need for an outlet, introduced her to drawing, which became a vital therapeutic practice. This early engagement with art, predating her encounters with formal therapy and medication, underscores a central theme in her work: the innate, transformative power of creativity in mental health. Through her collages, Casalino chronicles the evolution from childhood tantrums to adult rage and depression, each piece a testament to art’s enduring role in her personal and therapeutic landscape.

Casalino's art is an incisive exploration of the idiosyncrasies of childhood mental health conditions, advocating for early intervention and nuanced understanding. Her use of collage as a medium not only serves as a personal catharsis but also as a broader social commentary, challenging viewers to reexamine preconceived notions about mental health.

ARTIST

Clarisse Casalino is a registered psychiatric nurse, published writer, and artist based in Chicago, IL. A graduate of New York University with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, her dual perspective as both caregiver and former patient informs her unique artistic vision. Her work resonates with Shakespeare’s assertion, “Dispute not with her,—she is lunatic,” as she strives to illuminate the complex emotions and experiences of those labeled “crazy.” Through her intricate collages, Casalino invites us to engage with the delicate interplay between suffering and healing, prompting a reevaluation of the narratives surrounding mental illness.

Artwork details and collector inquiries are available on ARTSY, click below.

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SOLO FEATURE

July 6 - October 6, 2024

EXHIBITION VIEWING ROOM

July 6 - October 6, 2024, CLICK HERE