Interviews received back: part one: Marcel Bountrel.

1. Hello there. What is your name, your game, and favourite Canberra haunt?

Hello! My name is Marcel Bountrel, my game is selling recycled sandwiches of the most intrepid sort, you could say that sandwiches are my bread and butter *haha*
My favourite local haunts are here and there, sometimes even everywhere! But not once you see, that would just be silly.

2. Do you think there are connections between mental illness and creativity? Why?

Yes I do believe that there is a connection, I get the feeling that it has something to do with the intense emotional pressure and input/output that artists feel. There's no such thing as an apathetic artistic.


3. Do you practise any creative expression yourself?

Good gravy no! I would never practice that! Besides, you don't make much money from creative sandwiches. I mean, people would be too afraid to eat it and then it would go moldy and then what would I do?


4. Any experiences with yourself or friends, regarding mental illness, which you can say had links or effects to the products of creativity?

Well, no, I don't really know anyone like that. I mean, people like that aren't very interested in sandwiches, I deal more with the boring white collar classes.


5. Do you think there should be more research into the topic? Why?

There should definitely be more research into it! And less research in to the relationship between my sandwiches, mutation, zombification and global conflicts.


6. Who comes to mind when you think of the topic? Thoughts on their experience/life?

Daniel Johnston, Van Gogh and Dali come to mind, but then again, they're ALWAYS in my mind anyway, so it's hard to separate.


7. Do you have any theories as to why extreme episodes of mania and depression have influenced many artists’ works?

Because it's an outlet, the unspoken and uncomprehensible are given voice and light in art. I think that's why.


8. Do you think there is still a lot of stigma related to mental illness? Why?

There will always be stigma towards it, people simply just don't understand it, like they don't understand a good folk melody hummed through a bottle of cream cheese.


9. Do you think that creatives may sometimes avoid that stigma due to the praise of their talents?

I most certainly do agree! Fame let's you get away with quite a lot methinks, even madness.

Cheerio!