BEGIN:VCALENDAR METHOD:PUBLISH VERSION:2.0 CALSCALE:GREGORIAN PRODID:-//NONSGML Sandhills Development\, LLC//NONSGML Sugar Calendar Fe eds v3.8.2//EN X-WR-CALNAME:Altered Perceptions X-WR-CALDESC:Salamanca Arts Centre X-WR-TIMEZONE:Australia/Hobart BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:Australia/Hobart BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:+1100 TZOFFSETTO:+1000 DTSTART:20260404T160000 TZNAME:AEST END:STANDARD END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:Australia/Hobart BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:+1100 TZOFFSETTO:+1000 DTSTART:20260404T160000 TZNAME:AEST END:STANDARD END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Altered Perceptions DESCRIPTION:Tanya La Paglia\n\n\n\nExhibition Dates:Wednesday 29 July †“ Thursday 6 August\, 2026Open 10:00am – 5:00pm dailyPublic Opening Ev ent:Friday 31 July\, 20265:00pm – 7:00pmCONTENT WARNING: This exhibiti on engages in themes surrounding mental illness\, trauma\, and altered p erceptions of reality. Viewer discretion is advised. –––––Each painting functions as a visual narrative that has evolved from La Pagli a’s extensive knowledge of the struggles faced by those living with di storted realities. The images translate fragments of experience into emo tionally charged representations that aim to communicate states of mind often impossible to verbally describe.Tanya La Paglia is a multidiscipli nary artist whose practice encompasses contemporary drawing\, painting\, printmaking\, collage\, and sculpture. Her unique artistic perspective is deeply informed by her extensive professional background as both a nu rse in the mental health space and as an art therapist. Holding a Bachel or of Fine Arts from the University of Tasmania and a Graduate Diploma f rom the Melbourne Institute of Creative and Expressive Art Therapies\, L a Paglia employs a style of figurative expressionism to explore the comp lex landscape of altered perceptions experienced during episodes of ment al illness. Her work is specifically designed to invite curiosity\, ques tioning\, and meaningful discussion about the ways reality may be interp reted by individual people.The Artistic NarrativeThis body of work\, tit led Altered Perceptions\, consists of oil over acrylic paintings on wood en panels. Rather than being portraits of specific individuals\, each pa inting functions as a "window" or a visual narrative developed from mult iple experiences over a long period of time. These stories have evolved from La Paglia’s professional empathy\, and her knowledge of the strug gles faced by those living with distorted realities. The resulting image s are highly varied—often disjointed\, jarring\, or confronting—but also thoughtful and occasionally humorous. They translate fragments of l ived experience into emotionally charged graphic representations that ai m to communicate states of mind often impossible to verbally describe.Th e exhibition addresses a wide array of themes\, including schizophrenia\ , psychosis\, depression\, suicidality\, and anxiety. La Paglia’s imag ery often captures the visceral terror of hallucinations and delusions\, depicting figures hearing voices or seeing faces\, creatures\, and inse cts. These visual representations reflect how altered perceptions can le ad to the misidentification of others and the formation of delusional id eation. Because the works are intentionally direct and intense\, they ma y be confronting for some viewers\, but their primary purpose is to enco urage reflection and understanding instead of judgement or condemnation. Defining Altered PerceptionsAt its core\, an altered perception occurs w hen a person's experience of themselves\, other people\, or the world di ffers significantly from shared reality or their usual mental state. The se shifts can be temporary or long-term and are influenced by a multifac eted array of factors\, including physical health\, mental health\, rela tionships\, culture\, and environment.The causes are diverse:• Physica l Factors: Brain injuries or physical illnesses can change how informati on is processed.• Mental Health: Conditions such as bipolar disorder\, PTSD\, and personality disorders can drastically alter the interpretati on of events. During manic episodes\, a person may feel grandiose or eng age in high-risk behaviour\, while schizophrenia may lead to paranoia an d unrealistic beliefs.• Substance Use: Alcohol and illicit drugs can i nduce emotional instability\, confusion\, and impaired judgement.• Lif e Experiences: Trauma\, family violence\, grief\, and chronic stress oft en contribute to distorted thinking patterns.• Socio-Cultural Factors: Perception is also shaped by traditions\, upbringing\, and social expec tations. Personal identity—including gender and ageism—influences ho w one interprets the environment. For instance\, distorted body image ca n significantly impact self-esteem and confidence.Presentation and Impac tManifestations of altered perceptions vary widely. Individuals may appe ar fearful\, suspicious\, or emotionally distressed\, often withdrawing into isolation because they struggle to trust their own thoughts and fee lings. Cognitive difficulties with concentration and communication can m ake daily tasks or maintaining conversations challenging. In some cases\ , self-care may decline significantly\, leading to the neglect of person al hygiene\, nutrition\, and financial responsibilities.These challenges can have a profound impact on a person’s quality of life\, affecting their ability to maintain employment\, housing\, and social connections. Relationships with family and friends often suffer due to misunderstand ings or conflict. However\, conditions that alter perceptions are not so lely associated with negative outcomes. Divergent ways of thinking can a lso foster creativity\, innovation\, and unique problem-solving abilitie s. Many successful artists\, writers\, and entrepreneurs have used their unique perceptions as a source of inspiration and achievement.Conclusio nUltimately\, Tanya La Paglia’s work creates a space for dialogue abou t mental health\, perception\, and identity. By presenting these very pe rsonal perspectives\, the exhibition raises awareness and encourages vie wers to engage with experiences that are frequently misunderstood or hid den from public view. The works illustrate that while the journey can be challenging\, with understanding\, treatment\, and supportive relations hips\, individuals who experience altered perceptions can manage their c hallenges and lead meaningful\, productive\, and fulfilling lives.\n\n\n \n\n\nAccessibility\n\n\n\nWheelchair access via Lift in \;the Court yardAccessible Toilet (on Level 1 and in \;the CourtyardRegistered A ssistance Animals welcome\n\n\n\n\n\nTanya La Paglia/ Title Imposter /20 26 /Oil over acrylic Painting on Wooden Panel/ 46cm x 62cm/Photographer Thomas Roach URL;VALUE=URI:https://www.sac.org.au/events/altered-perceptions/ UID:urn:uuid:9370faa4-24cb-4456-aefd-923dba6bd42e STATUS:CONFIRMED ORGANIZER: DTSTAMP:20260619T113124Z DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260729 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260806 LOCATION:Salamanca Arts Centre END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR