King of Hearts

Elyse is a Moreton Bay-based printmaking artist working mostly in linocut, etching, and engraving. She has been practising print for 15 years and enjoys the medium’s flexibility and versatility to create images with unique qualities.

Mental health has been a struggle for most of Elyse's teen and adult life, driving many of the themes in her work; originally looking at anxiety as a natural and genetic response to trauma, and now focusing on the surprisingly formulaic dynamics of narcissistic family systems. Experiences with anxiety, depression, and a recent c-PTSD diagnosis have shaped Elyse's work and will continue to be a focus into the future.

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My series entitled 'The Hearts’ comprises a collection of prints exploring narcissistic family dynamics. The works loosely reference the Queen of Hearts from Alice in Wonderland, but each of the playing cards themselves refer to the mind games which the head of a narcissistic family plays, and the sacrifices others make to keep a relationship with the narcissist. Symbolism within the work depicts aspects of a narcissist's character and the different roles they prescribe to others.