"Filling the Void" by Kat Perkins

This is a case study of Garfiel-Delusion. This uncommon delusion is associated with varied psychiatric, medical, and neurologic conditions, often stemming from severe cases of consumerism, hedonism, and existentialism.

Kat is a 28-year-old, unemployed, single female with no children and pursuing a graduate level of education. This was her index presentation with a 1.5-year history characterized by ongoing delusions, as well as auditory hallucinations. She was found unconscious on the floor of her apartment; test results indicate intentional overdose on anti-depressants, Hot-Cheetos, and anti-psychotics. Notes scattered around the studio apartment where she resided stated clearly that she did not want to “live without Garfield”: therefore, we’ve deemed this an attempt at suicide.

Our research team is still finding conclusive evidence to piece together Kat’s history in order to  identify the extent of her condition, properly diagnose, and learn from the tragedy. Documentation by neighbors and onlookers during her initial (Months? Weeks? Years?) at the site has been helpful, but fewer findings can be found closer to the attempt. The severity of delusion seems to correlate with extended periods of isolation.

According to her family, Kat had no history of mental illness. As it stands, we suspect this not to be the case.

Here lies the scene of the attempt. Viewer discretion is advised.

Born in Lafayette, Louisiana, Kat Perkins is an artist with concentrations in printmaking, ready-mades, and ceramic sculpture. Working with themes of nihilism and chaos (technically and conceptually), she represents instability in a broken world. She received her BFA from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette in 2021 and is currently an MFA Candidate at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi set to graduate in the fall of 2025.