Catharsis documents my coming out journey and emotional healing process through three key stages: Affection, Disappointment, and finally Catharsis. The first stage, Affection, handles this experience delicately and in a way most viewers can initially relate to. Small actions speak volumes; a gentle shift of an expression, or a subtle sigh, or a strange look - these convey emotions that would be ruined if they were directly mentioned. The Disappointment works are a reflection of the “affectionate” works, representing a deeper understanding of the intricacies of emotional attachment and the strings attached to being loved conditionally. The combination of these two sections of work forms a collection of pre-packed, already processed emotions. Catharsis is not something produced by the individual works, but by the processing and resolution of the collective experiences. All that remains is the viewer's response, the work, and the artist's calmness.

The work is meant to be a short “torchlit maze” dungeon crawler game, combined with some light puzzle and enemy dodging elements. A combination of the dark, a limited health bar, and multiple levels, the game proves frustrating and challenging.

Developed on an HTC Vive. Footage shot on MetaQuest 3.

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I began with the idea of any user being forced to make a choice, however what I built was an interactive object that provided room for much more. I enjoyed watching people play with the device, there is a certain excitement to its movement and design, after all. Typically anything that is "dangerous" (aka has quickly moving parts) is sealed beyond reach. However, the device I built explicitly encourages you to willingly place your hand and an object you care about (emotionally and financially) into a situation that normally one would be completely prevented from interacting with.