On September 9, my painting series 'Burnout Medicine' was presented as part of the Self-Tuning Day event.
Through my "Burnout Medicine" series, I want to portray an inner journey through which I personally sought to understand and process burnout. This condition was foreign to me for a long time—though I recognized the signs in others, I never imagined it could affect me so quickly and unexpectedly, regardless of age. By moving through the paintings in sequence, I aim to convey the emotions, phases, and inner fluctuations that characterize this long, painful, often silent, yet exhausting period.
For me, burnout wasn't just about work. It was a state that slowly seeped into other areas of life: relationships, mindset, motivation, and self-image. During this process, I realized more and more that there is no single, universal solution. Recovery is rather a personal map: experimentation, reorganization, and finding what truly works—from the inside out.
Just as in art, we must discover our own path here as well. The "medicine" in this series does not appear in the form of a pill, but as a slow inner construction: through the anchors, habits, realizations, and decisions that do not merely suppress symptoms but provide true regeneration. The palette of the paintings follows this process—from immersion and falling apart to unfolding, until we finally find our way back to who we truly are.
Elements of the Burnout Medicine series:
Weight
The piece titled "Difficulty" depicts a human figure symbolizing a state of introspection and withdrawal. The cold, blue shades evoke an underwater world where the subject feels isolated from the outside. Through this, I express how the weight dwelling in the soul distracts us and prevents us from facing the problem.
The Chain
"The Chain" portrays a deeper phase of burnout—the state where we have become one with our hardships. The chains symbolize the tight bond connecting us to pain and exhaustion. At first, this coexistence is a burden, but over time we realize that the strength of the chain also reflects our desire for change. The message is that sensing the chains is the first step toward deciding what we want to change in our lives. "The path to healing is completely different for everyone."
Track
"Orbit" represents the next phase of processing burnout: searching for potential ways toward recovery. The multiple colors symbolize a wealth of choices, which can easily lead to confusion. It captures the moment when we begin our search and possess information about the problem but haven't yet decided which path is best for us.
Hourglass
The Hourglass symbolizes the patience required for healing. Processing burnout is a long journey that can last months or even years. As the sand slips away, we must give ourselves time to find our own solution. The image also speaks to the shift in time perception, as healing cannot be rushed.
Turbulence
Emerging from hardships and finding our track again often leads to even more turbulent processes, but there is hope.
Life is not linear. If we are patient enough and recognize the chains that bind us to this state, we can get back on track. Even the smallest attempts give us the feeling that there is a way out. The essence is to take action for ourselves and not give up, even if we don't succeed at first. You can find yourself at any time if you are brave enough to face the pain. Behind every bad feeling, there is immense potential.
Liberation
The final element of the process is liberation. It isn't always something grand; it often arrives in small steps. Painting brought me relief and healing, freeing my soul from heavy emotions. This key doesn't open a physical door; it grants inner freedom. Should hardships return, the path I have already traveled becomes navigable again, and perhaps I may reach new keys through further realizations.
