What is Chronic Pain?

Chronic pain can be defined as physical pain that lasts at least six months and is unrelenting. The sources of chronic pain can range from an injury sustained in an accident, to diseases such as cancer and AIDS, from complications of surgical procedures, and inherited conditions.

Hundreds of millions of people suffer from chronic pain throughout the world. However, the vast majority are receiving inadequate medical treatment. As a matter of fact, the undertreatment of chronic pain is a public health issue in the United States and worldwide. Undertreatment results in great suffering, loss of quality of life, and despair for those afflicted. It affects the pained individual, their family, and society. Tragically, undertreatment causes unnecessary suffering.

Ignorance is the cause of undertreatment and education the only cure.

The PAIN Exhibit Begins

Mark R. Collen is the creator and project manager of the PAIN Exhibit. He started it in 2001 as a response to the years of undertreatment he endured. In addition, Mr. Collen has created art pieces about his pain and has discovered that art is far more effective at communicating the pain experience than words; his first piece entitled “Chronic Pain” marked the beginning of the Exhibit. Mark's desire to help end undertreatment coupled with his understanding of the power of art to educate were the seminal factors in the birth of the PAIN Exhibit. Only through the grace of G-d was this exhibit possible.

The PAIN Exhibit received over 500 entries of pain art from across the globe. While reviewing the art, various themes emerged. These themes revealed the most important aspects of the pain experience which artists wanted and needed to communicate. The online exhibit is organized by these themes. Although the art depicts great suffering, it also expresses transcending the suffering. The pieces shown online are only a portion of the art that will eventually be displayed through a touring art exhibit when funding is obtained.

Acknowledgements

Mark Collen with the entries.

ART GALLERIES
Portraits of Pain - Suffering - Pain Visualized - But You Look So Normal
God and Religion - Isolation and Imprisonment - Miscellaneous - Unconditional Love - Hope and Transformation