‘Saint Anxius’ by Michael Aaron Ulmer: Assessing the Impact of Heavy Social Media Use on Mental Health

Photographer Michael Aaron Ulmer is known for his self-portrait and digital photo montages, during which he often discusses social and environmental issues. In Saint Anxius, Ulmer created his own version of the Salvator Mundi, a painting attributed to Leonardo da Vinci that features Jesus Christ giving his blessings with one hand and holding a glass orb with the other. In Ulmer’s version, he has put himself in Christ’s position, mimicking his pose as he gives his blessings with one hand and holds a cell phone with the other.

On Ulmer’s head, reminiscent of Christ’s Crown of Thorns, are three cell phones that have seemingly been hammered into his skull. Their displays show three social media platforms, which are coincidentally today’s major ones: X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and Facebook. Ulmer bleeds from the weight of this crown, therefore, in place of Christ’ calm expression is Ulmer’s confusion and distress. Here, Ulmer is appropriating the image of Salvator Mundi to caution his audience against the adverse effects that social media can bring to mental health. This is why Saint Anxius by Michael Aaron Ulmer is aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals of Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure and Good Health And Well-Being.

Excessive social media use has adverse effects on mental health, especially among children and teenagers. The American Psychological Association (APA) has found that teenagers spend nearly 5 hours a day on social media, with 41 percent having the highest social media use. This group rates their mental health as either poor or very poor, with the highest 10 percent expressing intentions for self-harm and suicide. All these numbers showcase the depth of Saint Anxius by Michael Aaron Ulmer, proving there are indeed intentions to shed real blood from over-the-top social media use.

Michael Aaron Ulmer’s Saint Anxius is a powerful commentary on the mental health toll of excessive social media use. It presents a striking visual metaphor by merging the sacred imagery of Salvator Mundi with the modern-day reality of digital dependency. Through Saint Anxius, Ulmer urges viewers to reflect on the consequences of an overconnected world and the urgent need to prioritize mental well-being in an increasingly digital era.

Find out more about Saint Anxius and other pieces by Michael Aaron Ulmer on his website www.michaelaaronulmer.com or Instagram @michaelulmer.