By Belinda Nolan
FOR Jessica Komljenovic, art is a way of exorcising her demons.
The Taylors Lakes teenager discovered a passion for painting during sleepless nights struggling with her mental health.
The 18-year-old suffers from bipolar disorder, a psychiatric condition that causes dramatic mood swings, mania and depression.
“I was going through my VCE at the time and it was so hard,” Jessica said.
“It was hard enough being a teenager but on top of that I was bipolar so I was all over the place.
“It altered my moods so much it was all I could do to stay in control.”
As part of her condition, Jessica was plagued by extreme bouts of insomnia, which played havoc with her health.
It was then that she discovered a flair for fine art.
“It was like a healing process for me,” the teenager explained.
“When I couldn’t sleep, or when I had manic episodes, I would go into my room and paint all my emotions on paper.
“Many of my pieces have been painted over and over again because I painted so much that I ran out of canvas.
“For me it was a way of coping.”
Now on medication, Jessica’s symptoms are under control.
A personal trainer and a part-time student, the teenager leads a busy life but is still devoted to her art.
She unveiled her first exhibition at the Granary Café in Sunshine last week.
The show will feature 12 of Jessica’s works and will run until 18 June.
For more information on the exhibition call 0412 218 974.
