David is an Asylum Seeker, who has fled persecution for speaking about the injustice back home and suffer from anxiety, depression and PTSD. Like many Asylum Seekers, they are not allowed to study or work while waiting for their status these leave many in a precarious situation wasting their mind and rotting away.

 

Rather than sit idle and wallow he was introduced to art therapy as a way to deal with his traumas, he hasn’t picked up a paint brush since leaving high school but has slowly found his way to feel comfortable with this newfound form of expression. He found making art a great escapism to address emotional issues a therapeutic way to deal with the traumas, the creative expression can foster healing and mental well-being. It has really helped him to deal with the isolation in lockdown, street homelessness and panic attacks from losing his sanity and to find his voice.