BFA Gallery Exhibition

Graphic design | 2022

The term hysteria originates from the Greek word for womb. Women with medical complications bearing children were described as having a “wandering womb.” The Greeks described women with wandering wombs to be “an animal within an animal,’ and thus the term hysteria was born. Since the initial definition, the term has evolved, but it remains gendered and widely politicized.

This collection focuses on the deconstruction of the physical female form and face as it intersects with a disillusionment from reality. Typographic work throughout the exhibition works to encapsulate a sense of dreamlike delusion. The subjects within the exhibition derive from a diverse set of media including film, poetry, and found objects.
Inspiration for this body of work originates from my continuous exploration of generational trauma and mental health disorders within my own family. My artistic process has allowed me to understand my own identity and place in a long line of “hysterical” women. This exhibition aims to surround myself and others with generations of women who suffer from the same cycles of pain observable in the present.

Poem by Anna Banerjee