Medina Mammadkhanova's Emotional Archives: Art as Mental Health Research

Medina Mammadkhanova (b. 2002, Azerbaijan) is a multidisciplinary artist whose practice investigates the intersection of art and mental health, using scientific methods like cataloging and data collection to create interactive installations. Her work includes "Archiving Aretha," a self-produced CD case collecting audience reactions to Aretha Franklin's 2015 Kennedy Center Honors performance, and "Emotional Processor," an arcade-like machine that prompts users to select emotions and answer questions to build emotional awareness. Another piece, "Coping mechanism, learning book," is a set of illustrated cubes representing seven dysfunctional psychological patterns identified through interviews and scientific texts. Mammadkhanova studied at University of the Arts London, earning a Foundation Diploma (2019–2020) and a BA in Graphic Communication Design from Central Saint Martins (2020–2023). Her work has been exhibited at Central Saint Martins, Sanatif Gallery, and Hackney Downs Studios. She has been nominated for the Didots Global Talent Showcase and shortlisted for The Pistachio Tree, Maksud Ibragimbekov 90. Her research aligns with the concept of "cultural prescribing," an approach institutionalized in Italy that integrates art experience into social welfare.