Exhibition Details:
"My name is Ana and I am a love addict" - says artist Ana Vallejo while trapped in her apartment with anxieties when COVID-19 hit New York City in 2020. This started a personal investigation to dissect and find the source of her addiction. She merged neuroscience, psychology, images, and anonymously sourced data. She photographed partners, friends and family members with whom she shared similar relationship experiences. She discovered that emotional and physical abuse makes us develop an insecure attachment style with dysfunctional coping mechanisms, making us prone to addictions. She realised her intense infatuations were a way to anaesthetise a life-long emotional pain. Using an interdisciplinary scrutinisation, Neuromantic delves into dysfunctional relationships to ultimately highlight why healthy bonds and trauma integration are necessary for our well-being.