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Wrapped

Type
Sculpture
Year
2024 - 2025

Inspiration and composition

Wrapped  is a reflective sculpture that delves into the isolation and communication struggles often faced by those living with bipolar disorder and the people supporting them. The piece features a clay head encased in layers of latex, symbolizing both protection and impenetrable barriers. The closed eyes and sealed mouth of the figure highlight the difficulty of emotional exchange, while small rescuers scattered across the sculpture represent attempts to reach through these barriers, offering support and understanding. 

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The materials—soft clay that hardens when fired and elastic yet constraining latex—mirror the dualities of mental health experiences: strength and fragility, flexibility and isolation, the possibility to snap anytime. These choices emphasize the tension between the desire to connect and the barriers that can obstruct understanding and empathy. The little rescuers evoke a universal narrative of striving to support loved ones while acknowledging the strong limitations inherent in such efforts​​

Connection to Mysteries in Science

Wrapped â€¯addresses the mysteries of mental health, particularly the gap between scientific understanding and the day-to-day realities of conditions like bipolar disorder. Despite advancements in research, the emotional and relational challenges for those impacted remain profound and multifaceted. 

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Through her work, Gerbrands highlights the shared experience of navigating these challenges, urging viewers to reflect on the complexity of mental health conditions and the resilience required to foster connections. Wrapped â€¯encourages a broader dialogue about the necessity of compassion, the importance of seeking help, and the role of empathy in addressing the unseen struggles of both individuals and their loved ones. 

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About Michèle Gerbrands

The Artist

The Netherlands

Michèle Gerbrands is an educational innovator and researcher specializing in challenge-based learning and educational strategy within the Graduate School of Life Sciences at Utrecht University and the UMC Utrecht. A lifelong creative, Gerbrands finds expression through different media. Sculpting, in particular, is a medium she values for its ability to convey complex emotions and ideas. Wrapped  represents her exploration of the barriers and challenges associated with mental health, particularly bipolar disorder, and how it affects individuals and those around them. Her work bridges art and empathy, aiming to initiate conversations about resilience and connection through visual storytelling. 

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