Quick Wins: Series title 'Paper Cuts' (Quick Wins is No.4 of eight)

Paper Cuts No.4 - Quick Wins
H42cm x W30cm
Work on paper (mixed media)

‘Quick Wins’ is about workplace jargon and how it reflects the current mood. This phrase is an example of a cliched expression that has emerged in recent times. Essentially, it means that instead of doing something thoroughly and properly, people should look for shortcuts because there is no time or money. A "Quick Win" is like the concept of "low-hanging fruit." It looks for easy solutions to complex problems. However, a "Quick Win" is not sustainable and won't make a long-lasting positive impact. It is fleeting and doesn't provide any nourishment for the organization, or the people involved. The artwork aims to highlight the dangers of relying on cliches like this and to encourage us to focus on more sustainable and meaningful solutions to complex problems. The characters in the artwork have become hysterical in the ever-increasing cycling of doing things faster and faster with no meaning.


The series - Paper Cuts
This series explores the impact of language on mental health. Created through a
combination of collage and drawing techniques, they bring attention to the passive/aggressive phrases and words that are often used to bully and blame individuals. The works feature a clash of cartoon-like imagery and hand-drawn text, highlighting phrases such as “being resilient” and “gentle reminder” that can be used in a harmful manner. Similarly, as technology rapidly evolves, so too does the absurdity of the language we use to describe it. This language is parodied to highlight how it can make us as humans feel anxious, out-of-date, or redundant. The series encourages open conversations about mental health and challenges the notion that individuals can be ‘fixed’, which distracts us from attempting to create a more equal and supportive society. It’s a call to action to rethink the way we communicate and to understand the power of words.

Jac Batey is a contemporary artist from the UK. Her work explores the complexities and nuances of British life through the medium of artists’ books, printmaking, and collage. By utilizing humour as a tool, she reveals the absurdity and beauty of everyday experiences and the shared humanity that connects us all. She is drawn to (and draws) the intersection of visual communication, illustration, and mental health. Her practice focuses on the use of visual narratives and visual interludes as a means of addressing mental health issues, as well as the use of drawing as a research method and coping mechanism.