Visualizing Pain
ꜛ
2019
digital to print, 12 x 18"
less
Visualizing Pain (2019) explores how we can understand and pay attention to the deep
connection between the mind and body in relation to pain, along with how our physical
state affects our mental state and vice versa.
The piece visually consolidates and describes pain related data of 20+ people–– where,
how and when they feel pain in their bodies. By correlating different factors and data
variables with visuals such as number of rings for intensity or colour for the mind/
body connection, I charted out a graph that looked like an abstract art piece inspired
by topography–– since it was after all, mapping pain. The goal was to use a rational
approach to describe something largely emotional and irrational at times–– to use a
more scientific approach to aid the creative process and give the data a voice.
Ultimately, I wanted to use individual experiences to describe a larger concept and
create a collaborative art piece that invokes shared empathy and emotion. I aimed to
use data as a tool to better understand human nature, and data visualization as a
medium to narrate what I discovered. The result turned out to be a little chaotic and
overwhelming–– something I wasn’t aiming to do at first, but later realized expressed
the data quite accurately. Although the piece isn’t by any means a scientific
representation of data, I still hope it paints an accurate sensorial picture of these
personal journeys.
Inspiration Project
The data, visualized.
The process included several steps–– starting from data collection, visual inspiration,
organization and analysis to defining different visual critera, initial sketches and
finally charting out the data.
Initial notes and sketches.
Experiments with visuals.
A final print.