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For this work I created a self-portrait with a specially designed head frame which is used to securely hold the head during a very precise radiosurgery known as Gamma Knife. This painting, entitled also as “Gamma Knife”, is more of a self- healing project since this same procedure was done to me. On July 2012, I experienced a head hemorrhage. After months of tests, they finally figured out that I had a Cognitive Arteriovenous Malformation on the left side of my brain which is what caused the hemorrhage. Later, the 5th of December of that same year, I had the Gamma Knife radiosurgery. On a physical scale, I have gotten better and at this moment there are no signs of the Arteriovenous Malformation, but on the emotional level I believe it has left a strong PTSD of the entire situation and probably other mental illnesses as anxiety and claustrophobia because I woke up various times during the surgery.
This painting is made with oil paint and aluminum foil on a canvas board 9 by 12 inches. Since I was not granted permission to see the actual head frame in the clinic I was attended, I used Photoshop to add the head frame to a picture of myself. This ended up being a great reference for the final piece. I incorporated the use of aluminum foil to portray the head frame which later I added the details that are on an actual head frame. I decided to use the aluminum foil because by just the thought of painting the head frame gave me a bad panic attack and thanks to someone close to me, they suggested that alternative which I applied.
In this work specifically, I wanted to paint the eyes but after some strong thinking in it I decided not to because during the surgery I do not know what happened. I never saw the head frame, which is why it is done in contour. I was not in control of my body because I would wake up various times alone with a horrible pain in my head.
In 2018 this artwork was exhibited at Elizabeth James Gallery in London, UK. The artists' first international group exhibit.
In 2023 this artwork won the Talent Prize Award at Terevarna's International Juried Art Competition.