Artist Statement
More than a decade ago I was diagnosed with an
autoimmune disorder called Hashimoto’s Disease. When
I was first diagnosed, I was only eleven years old and the
doctors described the thyroid as a butterfly shaped organ
that resides at the base of the neck. In this exhibition the
butterfly has three symbolic meanings. First is the
Thyroid, mimicking its shape and erratic nature. Second
is blood draws, when a butterfly comes across a corpse it
drinks some of their blood and ironically there is a needle
that nurses use called the butterfly needle. Third is
death. In some cultures, butterflies are used as symbols
of death. In my own experience, when I was first
diagnosed the doctor told me that my thyroid was
practically dead, this solidified my association of death
with the butterfly. I wanted to showcase the
overwhelming feeling of having to live with a chronic
illness and to help others experience the overpowering
weight that it carries. My greatest desire is for people to
become aware of chronic illness and the impact that it
has on the lives of those around them.