The Anatomy of Pain
In June 2023 I had knee reconstruction surgery on my right knee. This surgery reset my entire right leg anatomy from bones to ligaments. The surgery left me with two major scars and metal pins embedded into my knee to keep it stable. In the aftermath, I was left in a serious mental decline which I tried to disguise with positivity. I knew this surgery was essential in benefitting my future. Yet I could not help but feel regret and anger when looking back.
Mixed media and text are used to convey how I felt during this period. The repetitive layout of my text communicates how health professionals would consistently speak to me. They show how overwhelming it was for doctors to say how they could simply fix me. Yet I was left in an uncanny situation to what they described. I had to relearn to do basic movements and endure sickening side effects that I was unprepared for.
My series reveals how fixes to long-term health issues can influence a person’s perception of their body after a medical procedure. It observes how medical professionals give little insight into patient procedures. And the uncomfortable situation they find themselves in afterwards. I show the more realistic, uneasy situation I was in while revisiting my recovery stages.
