Memory of the Unknown
Acrylic and oil pastel on canvas, July 2026
For the Untitled NYC “DREAMS” submission I created a piece based on my experience with aphantasia (the inability to form mental images). My aphantasia and relationship to art has created challenges like feeling uncertain if I can pursue art due to not being able to use mental pictures in the art making process to help with my art and imagination. I wanted to depict the idea of feeling stuck in your dreams.
I also wanted to depict the idea of growing up and feeling uncertain if one can pursue art due to being faced with a lot of uncertainty from the people around.
Living with aphantasia profoundly changes how one experiences creativity. Unlike typical artists who rely on vivid mental imagery to guide their creations, people with aphantasia must find alternative approaches to visualize their art. In my experience, this meant leaning heavily on tactile sensations, textures, and emotional resonance rather than mental pictures. The process becomes more about feeling and intuition than replicating a mental scene, which can feel both freeing and frustrating. In creating 'Memory of the Unknown,' I grappled with the feeling of being stuck—unable to 'see' my dreams in the traditional sense, yet still driven to express them visually. This tension between limitation and desire fueled the work's emotional depth. I've learned that art can be as much about the journey of discovery as the final image. For those with aphantasia, embracing non-visual thinking unlocks new creative pathways. Additionally, growing up surrounded by doubts about pursuing art due to unconventional cognitive experiences often casts uncertainty on one's path. I have found that sharing personal stories through art fosters connection and awareness, encouraging others to persevere despite doubts. This piece not only represents a personal struggle but also invites viewers to rethink creativity and imagination beyond the visual.