My Inner Landscape was the first solo exhibition of Submit to Love artist, technician and volunteer Brian Searle.  

The exhibition took place at Microscope in Dalston, from 20 September to 3 October. 

Brian is an artist, volunteer and technician at Submit to Love. He experienced a brain injury at the age of 16, then worked as a carpenter and studied for a BA in Fine Art at London Metropolitan. 

“Brian is skilled at anything he puts his hands to. It was when he became a volunteer at the Submit to Love studio that he found a real talent in sharing his creative knowledge with our artists.” ~ Michelle Carlile, studio manager 

Using a range of creative mediums - ceramics, stitch, drawing, plaster, sculpture and print - My Inner Landscape guided the audience Brian’s personal reflections on art, mental health and his brain injury journey.

"Art is a way for me to push boundaries and try different mediums. It gives me an opportunity to get the emotions out and show them to the audience like a landscape." ~ Brian Searle, artist

Enjoy the photo gallery of the exhibition!

An interview with Brian Searle

In this interview, Brian reflects on the meaning of his body of work as a way to share his experiences around mental health, brain injury and Covid, and the impact of being a volunteer at Submit to Love.

Through drawings and sculptures that bring his depression and night terrors to life, Brian hopes to encourage the audience, especially men, to be more open about mental health.

“It’s about telling people that depression is real, and it helps to talk about depression and anxiety and not keep it inside.”

For Brian, art serves as a memory aid, a way of documenting his life. It is also a form of therapy and self-expression. Thanks to his family and his creative talent and skills, Brian has been able to find a sense of purpose and space for hope, which are reflected in his artwork through intricate details and precise use of colours.