A Sutherland Shire art gallery launched an exhibition this past weekend exploring the connection between gut health and mental health through local art.
Hazelhurst Art Gallery is hosting the exhibition ‘Gut Feelings’, featuring hand stitched sculptural installations from the 17th of August through to the 2nd of September 2025.The exhibition showcases collaboration from artists, University of New South Wales researchers and scientists, and contributions from the community
Artist Pat Pillai has previous experience working in a laboratory and was already familiar with images of the gut before taking on this project.
“I used to work in science, but I used to play a lot,” Ms Pillai said.
“I had a few mental health issues along the way, but I sort of learnt about artists therapy and started using my own art as a form of therapy, and it really changed my life, and changed the way I do art.”The artist said after creating the installations she realised it wasn’t just play anymore, because they had knowledge to support the work.
“We suddenly realised that our art wasn’t just stuff we were playing with, it could be something that would promote things that we were really interested in, which was better outcomes for mental health and dementia.”
“We can engage the audience, but the scientists can then talk about the health and science aspects of it,” she said.
UNSW Professor of Gut Health Georgina Hold said that educating the public on the microbiome and its role in health has been a long-standing passion of hers.
“I want other people to understand the amazing ability that the microbes have to improve our health,” Professor Hold said.
“I think it (art) is a fantastic mode to actually interpret what’s going on, and to breakdown complex aspects of our lives, and to actually put it in a forum that people can understand.”
“The fact that so many people have wanted to come and see this exhibition opening today, just demonstrates to me that this is such a worthwhile cause.”
