Henry Tonks, Hunterian Museum

May 21

Drawing inspiration from Henry Tonks today. I was able to see his work in person at The Hunterian Museum in London a few years back. I bought the exhibition catalog and have been referencing it ever since. He was a surgeon and painter in Britain and began recording facial injury cases starting in 1916. I suppose his work is so important to me because of my own facial injuries and surgeries. As a kid, I had reconstructive ear surgery, and my jaw slowly was broken and pulled forward with the Herbst appliance. In college, I was shot in the eye with a crossbow and had multiple surgeries to repair it. I think about how my ears, eyes, and mouth have all been reconstructed, changed, and collaged over the years. I wonder how it has informed my life and how I interact with others. I think about how I see myself and how others see me. This new little series was collaged and pieced together with consideration to these thoughts 🐛