The poet Ella Wheeler Wilcox once wrote:
“There is room in the hall of pleasure,
For a long and lordly train
But one by one we must all file on
Through the narrow aisles of pain.”
For a long and lordly train
But one by one we must all file on
Through the narrow aisles of pain.”
Her meaning is plain and simple: we all must navigate life and suffering on our own. Just as we all must navigate pain alone, one must deal with the actuality of mental illness in solitude. While those without mental illness can understand it objectively, the level of intimacy and the lack of physical symptoms of the neurodivergent can make it difficult to truly emphasize with those that are struggling. The gap between objectively understanding and actually empathising with intangible concepts can often be bridged through artistic expression. This series of surrealist portraits aim to aid in bridging this gap through providing a corporal structure for the abstract concept of mental illness. My interpretations of the physical manifestations of specific disorders can be seen in each individual portrait. Additionally, each portrait is paired with common aspects which intend to highlight the overarching feelings and elements of each disorder. The recognizable feelings and elements allow the audience to relate their own experiences and lives to each portrait or disorder. Ultimately, this conceptualization of the physical manifestations of mental illness is intended to provide another interpretation and representation of mental illness. Through providing the space for empathy by encouraging introspection, hopefully the “narrow aisles of pain” can become just a little bit wider.
