Danielle De Nardis
About
Mostro Ombra (“Shadow Monster”) is a series exploring different mental conditions and the stigma surrounding them through the material properties of glass and monstrous symbolism presented through a series of masks. The symbolic features and colours of each mask were translated from the lived experiences of a mental disorder one of my loved ones has struggled with - depression, panic disorder, and borderline personality disorder. Monsters in storytelling and folklore throughout history have been used as a warning, as something feared and avoided. In my work, the monster becomes an internal lived experience that is shunned by society, that takes the brunt of stigma and stares back at those who have made its presence far more monstrous than it need be. I hope through this series to help expand the dialogue around mental health, rehumanise this often-rejected element of human experience, and promote understanding and support for those adversely affected.
Bio
Dan’s work roots itself in the monstrous and the otherworldly to address real-world experiences and concepts. Despite their unusual and sometimes unsettling nature, she finds the creatures she sculpts to be a grounding, comforting, means of expressing what exists within. Glass - a material that feels almost otherworldly in its own ethereal, temperamental nature - is the body that gives life and sentience to her meticulously hand-sculpted figures, and harkens to the often-invisible and delicate nature of the themes she explores.