Air of Hysteria

Collapsing Hysterically.

Hospital.

Breathing

Easily at Last.

Seventeen months on.

Seventeen roof-slates.

Seventeen slices of me.

For as many years

This disease crept into my breath.

Hysterical piercings.

My vessels of air

Punctured.

Full of alien matter.

Roof slate

Protection.

Useless when perforated.

Not fit for purpose

Dysfunctional.

As were my lungs

Today.

Removed

Against all the odds.

Full of hope, strength and certainty.

Unshakable.

Thank you.

You know who you are.

(July 2009)

(Artist statement accompanying seventeen slate light box installation piece as displayed at the University of Derby and Wirksworth Festival)


Air of Hysteria - series 2 (2009)

Shown lit

Drilled roof-slate, LED lighting, wood and bolts

90cm x 60cm approx.

(Total of three wall-mounted slate light-boxes in this installation)

Air of Hysteria is a body of work dealing positively with my experience of a rare lung condition called catamenial pneumothorax. This is an unusual form of endometriosis.

Definitions:

Catamenial = linked with menstruation

Pneumothorax = the abnormal accumulation of air in the chest cavity

During menstruation blisters containing menstrual blood develop in the lungs. Once the blisters become too large, they burst, leaving holes in the lungs leading to minor or major lung collapses. Roof slate represents protection and has connections with lung diseases. The holes within the slate render it non-functional, but, without the holes, no light would shine through. My hope, self belief and strength are represented in this piece. Even during adversity, there may be beauty.


Air of Hysteria - series 2 (2009)

Shown lit

Drilled roof-slate, LED lighting, wood and bolts

90cm x 60cm approx.

(Total of three wall-mounted slate light-boxes in this installation)


Air of Hysteria - series 2 (2009)

Shown lit in daylight

Drilled roof-slate, LED lighting, wood, bolts and surgical suture material

110cm x 110cm approx.

(Total of three wall-mounted slate light-boxes in this installation)



Unlit

Air of Hysteria (2009)

Shown unlit

Drilled roof-slate, LED lighting and wood

45cm x 25cm approx.

(Total of seventeen wall-mounted slate light-boxes in this installation)



Air of Hysteria (2009)

Shown lit in darkened space

Drilled roof-slate, LED lighting and wood

45cm x 25cm approx.

(Total of seventeen wall-mounted slate light-boxes in this installation)



Air of Hysteria (2009)

Three slate light-boxes shown lit in darkened space

Drilled roof-slate, LED lighting and wood

Each 45cm x 25cm approx.

(Total of seventeen wall-mounted slate light-boxes in this installation)




Health Links

For more information on endometriosis visit:
http://www.endometriosis.ca/

&

www.endometriosis-uk.org/index.html



For more information on catamenial pneumothorax visit:
www.catamenialpneumothorax.org/