Space 22: May 31

Next week on Space 22 Archibald winning artist, Wendy Sharpe, is the new master artist at the helm.

She sets the participants three exercises to test if painting can help the group confront difficult emotions.

Wendy’s first challenge introduces the idea of colour as language. Using only colour and texture on paper, participants are asked to depict a list of familiar emotions. It seems like a simple exercise but is one that soon has participants completely overwhelmed. Proving a tough day for all though, the Black Dog Institute’s mid-way testing shows a marked decrease in the group’s overall mental health and wellbeing scores.

The following day, Wendy switches things up with the aim of introducing the group to flow and process. Participants are given three pieces of postcard sized images containing shapes and colours they must copy onto an A4 canvas using pastels. Individually the images are random, but assembled together, they will reveal something big and beautiful.

8pm Tuesday May 31 on ABC.