This image was inspired by the video game, Alice Madness Returns, and by the creatures in the game known as the Insane Children. Liyah started me on the idea, and this is the end product of such ideas, each and every object in this image is there for a purpose, and not just there to be seen. Here is a song to set the mood as you read the rest: [link]
First on the left is Liyah: The first thing to be noted is that her head is spit in half, as some people try to force ideas upon you, and then she has stapled herself up the best she can to keep the un-wanted things out and she feels shes the only one who can fix herself. But it is very difficult to keep some things out. her one eye is also stapled, stapled to remain open, as she trys to always see things around her and reality, because often times our own reality is extremely exorbitant and we must force ourselves to see the truth. You will also see the nail through her head, forcing her eye to pear out to me, for she always seems to be looking out for me. Other things you may notice is that her right arm has some fur missing because she has had a skin graph there, and her ear is ripped because she was born without such ear. She also has a forced smile on her face as meany of us do, for if we express how we truly feel we will only be ridiculed.
I (Kylie) am placed on the right: First to be noted are all the bandages, un-like Liyah, I do not try to fix myself but try to get help from others but they only simply cover the wound, not fix it so it is still there, just no longer visible, but it still bleeds through the gauze, reminding you it's still there. One of my eyes, and one of my ears are missing/not visible for I have problems with my sight and must wear glasses, and though I have slight trouble hearing sometimes that is not why it is missing, it is missing for I am often given ill advise and I no longer wish to hear it and am blocking it out, at least trying to. My lips are also forced into a smile, because I too know that people don't care to know how you truly feel and will make fun of you for it any how. Finally there is the wined up key on my back. The shape is that of hearts because (though the brain really controls everything) it feels my heart decides for me on most things, and some people can wined my heart up for there on gain, and use me, and I will get hurt.
Then there is the middle piece. A cracked heart that we have tried to fix together but still bleeds for the both of us.
You've packed so much emotion and symbolism into this... It's shocking and horrifying at first glance, but a closer look reveals that this is as human as it can possibly be. To show all these scars and wounds is something that people would rarely do; people don't like to open up like you did here through this picture. The physical trauma these characters have reminds us that mental and social trauma is just as bad as the physical. Really, great job on this.
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