Nobody Really Knows II

installation, October 2019, heart event, Urban Studio, Portland, OR

balloons with bandages painted with acrylic progressively popped by attendees over duration of event

The elements of this installation when interacted with are a simulation of the moment when trauma occurs causing the physiological and psychological constriction that manifests in the aftermath of a traumatic experience. To build this re-creation I use familiar objects that are associated with playfulness, celebration, fear, wounds, protection and healing. The balloon after the trauma is able to gradually unconstrict up to a point, but will never be the same. This final visual illustrates how trauma often goes unrecognized and is hidden away in our society.