DE4402: Games Design MA: Research In Context

 For this semester of my Masters, I have to write a research report on a given topic, which I have decided will be about how videogames are able to help deal with mental health, more specifically how to cope with larger problems.

To help gather insight into this type of art in order to help with a project, I looked to artists that specialize in drawing and painting interpretations of mental health's problems and symptoms. One example to commend for their art is an artist who goes by the psuedonym 'Lawlight Maledictus', who is a neurodivergant artist I had interviewed. The interview in question was about what I could learn from his type of art he creates and what I can do to use it in my own projects. The answers given were very helpful for constructing my Research Report.

My questions for each person I've interviewed, and Lawlight's answers are:

What genre of art do you specialise in?
"Answer for question one, for my genre of art i specialise in surrealism, figurative, landscape, narrative, social commentary, symbolism."

What type of themes do you cover in your art?
My themes are mental health psychological horror, body horror, self insertion, religion, tradition.

In what ways are you able to cope with your own problems relating to the themes you cover?
"Now that question deserves a answer, Art for me is a coping strategy a method of means to helps it keep sane, I've struggled with mental health and autism at a very young age and every day I take it as it comes for me to break the cycle I do alot of mental health art and drink alot of green tea, alot. Im just a mentally strong person who try to keep sane thats all."

What was your inspiration for one of your pieces?
"The majority of my work is based on my own or others mental health I say my most complex inspiration was there was this girl who had a rare disorder its called body identity integrity disorder it causes the subject to make them selves disabled they either remove there legs or make them selves blind etc its a interesting subject, I call it the Deterating Barbie."

What can I learn from your craft specifically?
"I say craft wise there's a saying I go by imagination is like a weapon those who lack it are the first to die, what im saying is use what comes to mine dont be afraid of being censored show people your true colours be ruthless be honest, be your self dont be anything like me be better then me."

I also asked an extra question, after being offered to ask any more that came to my head.From one of your pieces you've made, what lesson can be learnt from it that I could implement into a game project for the player to take from it, such as a concept or a method to cope with a problem?
"I'd say there is always room to improve and progress and practice doesn't make perfection practice makes progress, my personal favourite concept/troupe is self insertion finding your self in the image and relating to the concept its like looking at a metaphorical mirror and seeing your self in the image."

The information and advice that he has given is an invaluable asset.