Family Px: Exploring the Personalities of a Dissociation (DID) System
The concept of Dissociative Identities Disorder (DID - formerly called Multiple Personalities) has been embraced in pop culture by both those who believe it exists and those who embrace denial. Unfortunately, the issue becomes seeped in controversy. United States of Tara (Showtime TV Series 2009-2011) attempted to give an authentic demonstration of how DID manifests within a domestic scenario, albeit with quite polarized personality-types. Other TV shows like Law & Order and Criminal Minds have exploited it as a means of solving impassable crime stories with DID as motivating the serial killer or child abuser. Understanding DID requires grasping a paradigm shift in how we perceive the human condition and mind.
Dissociation is not about crazed murderers or individuals plagued by drastic deviations in character, voice, and dress. It is about the normal human condition coping with life despite coping with extreme childhood trauma that was, and continues to be, untenable and, otherwise, is unbearable. The average person is singular and has different tenants to their personality (i.e., how one behaves in church vs. at a party). In DID, there is a plural system of personalities, each with their own strengths, life skills, and weaknesses, all of whom share the same body and the same life. Together, they navigate the human experience albeit at times with some difficulty.
To counter the misconceptions proffered by popular culture, Bernadine, a visual artist who has professionally worked as a support worker, with 1000’s of folks with DID, has created this series entitled "Family Px: Exploring the Personalities of a Dissociative (DID) System" wherein she creates portraits of typical (albeit completely fabricated) personalities within DID. It is not uncommon for DID systems to have 100s of personalities. Fox examines how each personalities’ job co-exists within their internal environment and, ultimately, how they assist the system to operate in the external world. These portraits include young/old, female/male, and human/non-human personalities.
Each portrait is framed in the same 10” x 10” black shadow box. Each includes a tag that identifies each personality with their name, approximate age, and function within the DID system. These portraits include digitally altered images, photographs, and mixed media found objects. In addition, she has assembled a collection of artifacts (cookbooks, baseballs, dolls, yoyos, jewellery, etc.) that belong to this fictional character and has created a photo album of all the personalities. When installed altogether, the viewer is allowed to step inside the dissociative system and understand the subtle intricacies and nuances at play and how this “person’s” life experiences and childhood trauma dictate how they must cope within their world along with how they work always to survive.
Bernadine uses he life experiences to inform her creative process. She creates art that reflects the contemporary reality of women’s lives. Bernadine obtained her BFA from the Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design in Vancouver, BC and has studied at the Alberta College of Art and Douglas College of BC. After graduating from ECIAD, Bernadine worked as a Film Producer/Production Manager for both film and animation projects and then worked with victims of violence for over a decade. She has volunteered her expertise on the boards of various art organizations, including Women in Film, CARFAC BC, and the Society for Disability Arts and Culture (host of international KickstART Festival). She is a signatory to the Canadian Artists Representation Copyright Collect and creates art out of her space in William Clark Studios in East Vancouver, BC. When not making art, Bernadine teaches drawing, curates exhibitions, organizes art and cultural events, is a social activist around issues pertaining to the lives of women and children, takes care of two cats and raises her granddaughter.
Dissociation is not about crazed murderers or individuals plagued by drastic deviations in character, voice, and dress. It is about the normal human condition coping with life despite coping with extreme childhood trauma that was, and continues to be, untenable and, otherwise, is unbearable. The average person is singular and has different tenants to their personality (i.e., how one behaves in church vs. at a party). In DID, there is a plural system of personalities, each with their own strengths, life skills, and weaknesses, all of whom share the same body and the same life. Together, they navigate the human experience albeit at times with some difficulty.
To counter the misconceptions proffered by popular culture, Bernadine, a visual artist who has professionally worked as a support worker, with 1000’s of folks with DID, has created this series entitled "Family Px: Exploring the Personalities of a Dissociative (DID) System" wherein she creates portraits of typical (albeit completely fabricated) personalities within DID. It is not uncommon for DID systems to have 100s of personalities. Fox examines how each personalities’ job co-exists within their internal environment and, ultimately, how they assist the system to operate in the external world. These portraits include young/old, female/male, and human/non-human personalities.
Each portrait is framed in the same 10” x 10” black shadow box. Each includes a tag that identifies each personality with their name, approximate age, and function within the DID system. These portraits include digitally altered images, photographs, and mixed media found objects. In addition, she has assembled a collection of artifacts (cookbooks, baseballs, dolls, yoyos, jewellery, etc.) that belong to this fictional character and has created a photo album of all the personalities. When installed altogether, the viewer is allowed to step inside the dissociative system and understand the subtle intricacies and nuances at play and how this “person’s” life experiences and childhood trauma dictate how they must cope within their world along with how they work always to survive.
Bernadine uses he life experiences to inform her creative process. She creates art that reflects the contemporary reality of women’s lives. Bernadine obtained her BFA from the Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design in Vancouver, BC and has studied at the Alberta College of Art and Douglas College of BC. After graduating from ECIAD, Bernadine worked as a Film Producer/Production Manager for both film and animation projects and then worked with victims of violence for over a decade. She has volunteered her expertise on the boards of various art organizations, including Women in Film, CARFAC BC, and the Society for Disability Arts and Culture (host of international KickstART Festival). She is a signatory to the Canadian Artists Representation Copyright Collect and creates art out of her space in William Clark Studios in East Vancouver, BC. When not making art, Bernadine teaches drawing, curates exhibitions, organizes art and cultural events, is a social activist around issues pertaining to the lives of women and children, takes care of two cats and raises her granddaughter.