Like the rest of the world, I found myself trapped inside, forced to confront myself as it were. I am not the type to spend countless hours on a puzzle or craft project—I am a thinker. Most of my time is spent writing down endless philosophical musings and painting.
When quarantine began, I was working part time as a UX writer for Microsoft.. That’s the work I have been doing for years—it has been utterly unfulfilling. I have struggled working in the corporate world because I am fairly sensitive, and I have PTSD—the tough environment is not a nourishing one for a woman with a history of trauma. When the world I knew came to a screeching halt, I found myself asking very hard questions. “if I die tomorrow, what do I want to be doing?” It wasn’t working for tech companies.
When I was a young woman, I had all the answers. I knew who I was and what I was going to do. Yet as I have built on my experience with both people and careers and grown out of my naivete, I have found I am particularly suited for creative pursuits and therapeutic work. Both not only fulfill me, but also help me grow as an individual. My creative practice is a visual reflection of my psychological studies and technique. It is a visual representation of the deep internal work I embark on. There is a sense of transformation, healing, and pain in every single piece. It’s all meant to be there.
Water is a common element in my work, regardless of medium. I am attracted to water because of its fluidity and flexibility. When you touch it, it absorbs into you. When you cry, water pours out of you. When you float, water holds you. We are all made of water. Water is the single common element we all share and I am very interested in what unites people.
My work is very emotive and is a reflection of my own healing from childhood abuse. You will feel something when you look into each piece, like you would when you have a very vulnerable conversation with a close friend—that said, what you feel is dependent on your own complicated history. I create my work in my quiet moments of contemplation to capture the transient nature of my emotions. When I look at the finished results, the moment I was in feels preserved.
And as I conclude this brief essay, I conclude it as an artist, a thinker, and student. Titles that have always described me, yet now I fully own.
Nice to meet you.
Artist Bio:
Andrea Bijou studies the effect trauma has on the psyche. With a pause on abstracts, her artwork is a juxtaposition between blooming awareness and the unconscious. There is a dualistic quality dancing in her work; a coupling of opposites showcasing human darkness and healing. She uses her creative practice as a therapeutic outlet for early childhood trauma. Andrea is an advocate for abuse survivors and is working towards her Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling degree. You can view more of her work at www.andreabijou.com.