Aphantasia

Diving into the Nothingness of My Mind’s Eyes, Aphantasia  

by Mina Boromand

I am an Iranian artist living in London. My work is based on an experimental approach in which the use of different mediums enables me to be playful in creating artwork.

By chance when listening to BBC Radio 4 I discovered that the lack of visual memory that I have always experienced is a phenomenon known as Aphantasia. This discovery led me to start this project which seeks to explore the lack of visual imagery in my mind. I adopted an experimental approach to investigate the relationship between memory and mental visual imagery and I have realised that far from inhibiting my creative practice this condition has in fact benefited my creativity.  I must start a project without any end plan and let my subconscious take over and lead me through to the unknown.

The selected photographs are emblematic of an emotional attachment to my memory. I manually add new layers onto the surface of photographic prints, a way to connect the mind with my memories. The short video presents the juxtaposition of layered photographs, drawings, and my voice, in order to reflect the way my brain deals with remembrance without the benefit of the mind’s eye.