albert laszlo haines

Albert Laszlo Haines has spent about 34 years in various UK mental health institutions, including the high-security Broadmoor Hospital, Berkshire. The environment was brutal at times and Haines found being confined mentally tough. Art became a lifeline for him to stop dwelling on his difficult surroundings and gave him a positive outlet. As Haines explains:

＂I have never found it easy to express myself through words. I am much better at communicating visually rather than verbally about my feelings and my life, so I find my art is an extension of my innermost thoughts and emotions. I let the artwork do the talking and, in so doing, it gives me a chance to share more of myself with others.＂

A prolific artist, Haines describes his art as ＂a drop of Dalí, a dash of Picasso, a tad like Mark Chagall, with a taste of Escher.＂ Drawings and Paintings showcases examples of all his styles and mediums to date. The work flows mostly from his imagination and he allows it to remain semi-abstract to communicate how his art and life have developed over troubled times.
Art is a constant passion that helps him stay grounded and optimistic about his life.

He has been described as a true artist who works intuitively, his creativity being natural and without complications. His work, recognisable by its distinctive, intricate line style, covers complex subject matters yet is executed with ease and ability, and is an example of perseverance and a symbol of overcoming adversity.

Haines hopes this book will bring joy and help others to consider expressing themselves through their own creativity. The book, and the artworks within, have allowed him to work through his own mental challenges and he hopes that other people will take their own personal journey of exploration and feel the positivity it brings, even when sometimes dealing with difficult subject matters.

Haines asks us to question everything.