The Search (Hidden)

Laura Bean is a multidisciplinary artist and writer, born and based in Brisbane. Since her diagnosis with chronic depression in 2015, her work has explored the emotional and psychological landscapes of growing up as a young woman with a mental illness.

Working across photography, printmaking, and poetry, Laura's practice invites audiences to reconsider what it means to be a woman navigating the complexities of invisible illnesses.

Presented as a diptych, 'The Search' reimagines the wordsearch as a metaphor for the quiet, persistent, and often unseen effort to stay grounded in everyday life while living with the ongoing challenges of chronic mental illness.

Tucked within the grids of stamped letters are words including 'continue', 'exist', 'persist', and 'live'. In 'Hidden', all of the words are in black ink, prompting viewers to search for them.