City museum displays art focusing on mental health

Paul Kneen, 50, says "everyone can relate to this artwork"

"PAINtings", a solo exhibition focusing on human emotions and mental health challenges, has gone on display at a museum.

The work of Stamford-based artist Paul Kneen is being showcased at Peterborough Museum & Art Gallery until 15 June.

More than 90 original pieces capture grief, anger and other themes across three rooms.

Mr Kneen said the inspiration for this work came from the current state of the world and people’s everyday struggles.

Mr Kneen has always enjoyed art but only took it up more seriously in the last six years

"Mental health concerns are on the rise - maybe because more people are talking about it now," Mr Kneen, 50, said.

"There’s also too much negativity in the world with conflicts and war. There’s the Israel-Gaza war, Russia-Ukraine war. So it’s impacting people.

"But also there’s the daily struggles of life... the cost of living crisis where people have to choose between eating or heating. Life is difficult generally.

"This exhibition was for me to encompass the feelings of society. Loss, despair, frustration, anger...

"It’s a journey for me to find out who I am as an artist."

The artist has showcased 90 pieces around the Peterborough Museum

Mr Kneen has always enjoyed art but only took it up more seriously in the last six years, he said.

The artwork in the new exhibition took him 14 months to complete and it is being displayed in chronological order.

As visitors move through the three rooms, they are invited to witness the evolution of the artist's distinctive style, from its experimental stages through to its final form.

It uses a myriad of mediums, including expansive wooden boards, recycled cardboard, and even skateboards.

The first room has the initial paintings mainly in black and white, while the second room showcases slightly more colours.

But the third room "offers hope", Mr Kneen said.

"I take out the foot off the pedal and let the colours pop... it offers more positivity.

"I think everybody can relate to this concept of painting irrespective of who you are or where you are.

"Emotions really bring us together as a society."