SCOTOMA by Dorothy Huang

Scotomaphobia is the fear of blindness or seeing spots in your vision. I first experienced it when I was 12 years old after being diagnosed with intermediate uveitis, a chronic eye condition that left me needing weekly injections. I dreaded every appointment and the treatment made me feel constantly sick, but even more frightening was the thought of losing the ability to see as an artist.

For more than two years, I have wanted to capture the fear, helplessness and nausea I experienced during that time. During my check-ups, I became fascinated by the strange, dreamlike imagery inside the examination machines. A house beyond a green field, the reddish scans of my eyes and the feeling of constant déjà vu stayed with me long after I left the clinic.

In this self-portrait, I have woven together those memories with an actual scan of my eye and other symbolic imagery, creating a deeply personal reflection on vulnerability, resilience and the experience of seeing the world through uncertainty.