ARTIST STATEMENT
Madii Collective is an autistic, disabled, trans non-binary artist, who works with many different types of media and is in their fourth year of the Bachelors of Fine Arts program at University of Ottawa. They are diagnosed with Dissociative Identity Disorder, formerly known as Multiple Personality Disorder, and have chosen to go by ‘the Collective’ to allow all alters (alternate personalities/identities) of the artist to create and publish art under one name. The Collective is also completing a tattoo apprenticeship at Inksession Inc—focusing on trauma informed care, gender affirming experiences, and neurodivergent accommodations—and performs drag and burlesque as Miss Diagnosis, focussing on representation for autistic, disabled, trans, and plus size people.
In their personal work, The Collective uses their art to process personal trauma, their struggles with mental illness, and their feelings towards existing as a disabled individual. Dehumanization—the act of one being stripped of their ‘human qualities’—is often explored within their work, as well is the personification of intangible concepts like mental illness.
The Self is also a concept that is revisited in their work: trying to grasp what is the self, and what does that mean for someone with DID; questioning if the self is changing or stagnant; trying to analyze self-image; and just depicting the different ways they see themselves.
In their personal life, the Collective struggles with feeling misunderstood and being unable to accurately communicate what they are experiencing due to either nonverbal episodes or an inability to articulate an abstract concept. Art has become a way for them to depict things that are otherwise difficult for others to understand and to bridge the gap of communication. They hope that viewers experience either validation or understanding and hopes to create a conversation and offer representation.
The Collective intends to be extremely vulnerable in each piece and hopes this resonates with others. As a collective they admire Vincent Van Gogh, Louise Bourgeoise, Kim Noble, Kazland, and Jacob Lawrence.
In their personal work, The Collective uses their art to process personal trauma, their struggles with mental illness, and their feelings towards existing as a disabled individual. Dehumanization—the act of one being stripped of their ‘human qualities’—is often explored within their work, as well is the personification of intangible concepts like mental illness.
The Self is also a concept that is revisited in their work: trying to grasp what is the self, and what does that mean for someone with DID; questioning if the self is changing or stagnant; trying to analyze self-image; and just depicting the different ways they see themselves.
In their personal life, the Collective struggles with feeling misunderstood and being unable to accurately communicate what they are experiencing due to either nonverbal episodes or an inability to articulate an abstract concept. Art has become a way for them to depict things that are otherwise difficult for others to understand and to bridge the gap of communication. They hope that viewers experience either validation or understanding and hopes to create a conversation and offer representation.
The Collective intends to be extremely vulnerable in each piece and hopes this resonates with others. As a collective they admire Vincent Van Gogh, Louise Bourgeoise, Kim Noble, Kazland, and Jacob Lawrence.