Jaiden Bowman
Jaiden Bowman does not credit his current art practice with assisting in his recovery journey as it wasn't until improving his mental health that he was able to progress as an Artist. In his mid twenties, Jaiden decided he wanted to stop struggling and change his outlook for the future.
Jaiden lived with depression and anxiety as a young person and has recently been diagnosed as neurodivergent and with complex post traumatic stress disorder (CPTSD) – which he defines as exposure to stress or repeated trauma over an extended period of time.
He has worked hard to recover from his mental health challenges which shaped his earlier life and has been busy working on building his freelance illustrating and arts business.
“I think it was sink or swim and I didn’t want to live like that anymore, it took a lot of strength and to make that choice and there have definitely been many ups and downs.”
Jaiden painting in his home studio
Jaiden said he never really ‘had a good time’ from early primary school and his mental health took a big hit in high school. This continued into his early twenties due to working environments that exacerbated some of his struggles.
Growing up as a queer and neurodivergent person in a conservative environment had a huge impact on his mental health and it took a long time to find a safe place to recover from those experiences.
“I went to quite a conservative school and it wasn’t even until late high school I was introduced to the concept of a queer person or that there were other options outside of a heteronormative way of life.
The dislike from my peers often wasn’t said explicitly, but came in the form of microaggressions and implications – this attitude existed that was like, “I can’t say anything about you without being in trouble, but I obviously don’t like or accept you.” It was this constant exposure to that kind of attitude, and it was horrible.”
Being in a non-accepting environment affected him deeply and once formal schooling was over and he could find safe, accepting environments elsewhere, Jaiden said he could start to work on his recovery.
“This attitude is normalised around you – but it didn’t feel normal or comfortable for me – and it wasn’t until I wasn’t in that schooling environment and could be part of other communities like the queer markets where there are other people like me.”
“It’s diversity that actually makes us stronger because we all have strengths and weaknesses and it’s a good sign of the culture that there is lots of different types of people,” he said.
“Whenever I meet a young, queer person now, especially if they are still in high school, the biggest thing I say is, life 100% gets better. High school can be very challenging if you are queer or neurodivergent. Life gets so much better when you’ve got a kind of freedom and control over where you want to go and pursue the things you want to pursue.”
“I used to get in trouble for doodling in my notebooks and was told it was a waste of time – if anything I should have been investing more of my time drawing and was wasting my time on what others perceived as more ‘valuable’ subjects.”
Bumpkin the Cowboy Furby (2022)
Today Jaiden has made the choice to dedicate his time to his business and art practice which explores psychology and philosophy through his subject matter and works. He credits support from his long-term partner Josh and leaving toxic work environments as big contributing factors to being able to build his emerging business.
“I have always been interested in psychology and philosophy and an exploration of the mind. With the business I’m establishing I’ve narrowed it down to childhood nostalgia type imagery and themes. I really love when the art triggers a memory from when I was a kid.”
“It’s going to be a lot of early 2000’s nostalgia, childhood memories and bringing these to a contemporary adult audience – my art isn’t for children but it’s going to connect with people’s inner child. It’s the juxtaposition of these warm, nostalgic feelings with the uncanny and the uncomfortable.”
“I use my mental health journey as inspiration, rather than motivation – since getting help and getting better, I’ve been able to reflect back on my past experiences and pull bits and pieces out.”
Now working as a part-time freelance illustrator, part-time furby maker and also as a small business owner with Chonkyfriend which sells art prints, wearable art pins and stickers visiting artist markets, queer markets and pop culture conventions to connect with his local community.
Furbnomicon (2024) - Inspired by H.P Lovecraft's Necronomicon
“For someone struggling with mental health issues, the most important thing you can do is change your environment. That can be your job, your friends, your family, your physical location - whatever is hurting you and holding you back. The only way to get better is to get to a safe environment where you can start to recover. You cannot recover when you are still in survival mode.”
Jaiden also shared a quote which continues to resonate with him – ‘There are hundreds of paths up the mountain, all leading to the top. The only ones wasting time are those who run in circles around the mountain, telling others that their path is wrong.’ - Unknown Author, likely based on a similar proverb from Swami Vivekananda, an Indian Monk and Philosopher.
Looking to the future Jaiden and his partner Josh hope to get married, move to Melbourne sometime soon and continue to build his business Chonkyfriend with a range of colouring books, a Furby-themed art exhibition and creating resources to assist neurodivergent people.
Self Portrait by Jaiden Bowman
Jaiden is exhibiting for the first time in Recovered Futures with his work Self Portrait which is a self-exploration of his mind and the concept of self as informed by the theories of Carl Jung.