It’s devouring my eyes again

“”It’s Devouring My Eyes Again,” a haunting drawing by Gimiro, delves into the artist’s personal experience of living with schizotypal mental illness. This evocative artwork serves as a visual representation of the artist’s nightmare, a nightmarish scenario that persisted even as they woke up, spiraling into hours of psychosis.

The drawing portrays the artist himself, depicted to the left, caught in the depths of agonizing screams and complete torment. His expression of agony and anguish is palpable, as if he is trapped in a terrifying reality. To the right, a thin spider-like creature is depicted, actively devouring the artist’s eyes and depositing its eggs within the empty sockets as he sleeps, perpetuating his torment and violating his sense of safety.

This artwork serves as a manifestation of the artist’s deepest fears, symbolizing the overwhelming intrusion of hallucinations and delusions that accompany the artist’s schizotypal mental illness. The spider-like creature represents the invasive and parasitic nature of the artist’s hallucinations, relentlessly preying on their mind, distorting their perception of reality.

The theme of eyes being devoured and replaced by eggs highlights the unsettling transformation occurring within the artist’s psyche. Eyes, often seen as the windows to the soul, are essential for perceiving and understanding the world. The devouring of the artist’s eyes by the creature suggests a loss of clarity, perception, and self-identity, replaced by distorted and disturbing visions.

The fact that this nightmare persists even after waking up speaks to the artist’s struggle with distinguishing between dreams and reality, blurring the boundaries between the two. This inability to escape the clutches of their own mind further emphasizes the distress and disorientation experienced by individuals with schizotypal mental illness.

The viewer is confronted with the raw and visceral depiction of the artist’s psychological turmoil, reflecting the profound impact of schizotypal mental illness on their daily life. The artwork aims to create a sense of empathy and understanding for those grappling with similar mental health challenges, shedding light on the often terrifying experiences faced by individuals living with psychosis.”

Original drawing

The frame is an old frame bought in a thrift store

Handdrawn with pen on white drawing paper 110

Size 37 x 28 cm

Size frame 48 x 38 cm

Hand-signed by the artist