Jason Borkholder

While vacationing with their family in the spring of 2019, the artist had a near-death experience that made them reevaluate their life. Given a second chance at the age of 41, they were determined to figure out their identity and how they could serve others. Pursuing a lifelong dream of performing stand-up comedy, they had to first overcome severe social anxiety that had plagued them since childhood. Through this journey, they discovered they were neurodivergent, with undiagnosed autism/ADHD hindering their potential despite being labeled gifted and talented in their youth.

Despite overcoming their anxiety to perform stand-up several times in the fall of 2019, the artist realized that their health problems were more extensive than just anxiety. Living with chronic pain for most of their life, they knew they needed to get healthier if they wanted to continue performing regularly. Stepping away from the stage led them on a journey to find answers to their health issues, which ultimately took almost four years to uncover: a diagnosis of Hypermobile Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, a genetic disorder with no treatments or cure.

During those four years of searching for answers, the artist channeled their creativity into photography and digital art. With the world on lockdown, they began taking photos with their phone and manipulating them digitally to create surreal images. This exploration led them to create thousands of photos and digital artwork pieces, each uniquely different but bound together by their common exploration of juxtaposition and symmetry. Their aim is to distort perceptions and create a new perspective, triggering the mind to enter a state of neuroplasticity.

This collection of the artist's favorite works is now available for purchase as prints for home and office decor. Each piece invites viewers to explore the boundaries of perception and engage with art in a way that challenges their understanding of the world. Embrace the opportunity to bring a piece of this unique perspective into your own space and let it inspire new thoughts and creativity in your daily life.