Célébrons nos artistes
Consultez l'information et les directives de soumission pour le concours d'art 2025 dès maintenant.
Les prix d'art de la Société canadienne de la douleur ont été lancés pour rassembler le grand public, contribuer à la mobilisation de connaissances et pour concevoir de nouveaux outils pour enseigner et communiquer à propos de la douleur et son impact sur la vie sociale. Avec un thème nouveau à chaque année, nous partageons une variété d'oeuvres proposées par du personnel clinique, des scientifiques, des pédagogues, des artistes et des personnes vivant avec la douleur.
Alerte : L'art nous permet à chacun l'opportunité d'explorer les sujets difficiles de différentes manières. Pour cette raison, quelques œuvres d'art incluses dans cette exposition virtuelle - ou bien dans leurs descriptions - abordent des thèmes de fin de vie, de santé mentale, de nudité et de la reproduction humaine, et de la souffrance qui pourraient déranger quelques visiteurs.
Note : Afin de préserver la vision de l'artiste, nous avons choisi de conserver les descriptions dans la langue de soumission.
The theme for 2022 was 'Pain and Mental Health'
The theme for 2021 was 'Imagining Pain'
The theme for 2024 was 'Shared Horizons'
The theme for 2025 was 'What do I do for Pain'

First [2026]
Through the Darkness
NoorAl Kaabi
"This artwork captures the visceral experience of pain and delirium in the intensive care unit (ICU). A woman lies in her hospital bed, her skin flushed red, symbolizing agony the body’s distress under illness and medical intervention. Her hair transforms into a dense and tangled jungle — her mind is both sanctuary and a nightmare. Through this piece, I explore the delicate balance between alleviating suffering and the cognitive consequences of sedation. The question “What do I do for pain?” is not only personal but deeply ethical. Physicians are tasked with understanding the evolving landscape of pain management. Recent evidence favors multimodal pain relief strategies over excessive sedation to reduce ICU delirium and cognitive impairment. The historical reliance on benzodiazepines is waning, while non-pharmacologic interventions such as early mobility gain favour. This piece invites the viewer to step into this complex intersection of medicine, ethics, and human vulnerability—where every decision carries consequences, and relief is often inseparable from consequences.
Natalie Boivin
Watercolour on 300 gsm paper
This is a watercolour illustrating a person impacted by pain. It depicts the affected person (dark blue footprints) walking in the snow, deep into the forest. The dark blue of the woods represents the fear and loneliness sometimes felt by the person living with pain. The vibrant red and orange represent the burning sensation often associated with pain. The sun is the wonderful aftermath when the pain dissipates. You will notice that the person ends up walking into the woods alone, however there are other foot (& paw) prints that represent the support that accompany the affected person for parts of the journey. The painting illustrates that the journey through pain is a myriad of things…it is dark, shared, lonely, and physically taxing. But most importantly, the painting shows a glimmer of hope as there is always a way through the darkness.

Second [2026]
Wrinkles of Time
NoorAl Kaabi
"This artwork captures the visceral experience of pain and delirium in the intensive care unit (ICU). A woman lies in her hospital bed, her skin flushed red, symbolizing agony the body’s distress under illness and medical intervention. Her hair transforms into a dense and tangled jungle — her mind is both sanctuary and a nightmare. Through this piece, I explore the delicate balance between alleviating suffering and the cognitive consequences of sedation. The question “What do I do for pain?” is not only personal but deeply ethical. Physicians are tasked with understanding the evolving landscape of pain management. Recent evidence favors multimodal pain relief strategies over excessive sedation to reduce ICU delirium and cognitive impairment. The historical reliance on benzodiazepines is waning, while non-pharmacologic interventions such as early mobility gain favour. This piece invites the viewer to step into this complex intersection of medicine, ethics, and human vulnerability—where every decision carries consequences, and relief is often inseparable from consequences.
Mohit Bhandari
Pencil Sketch.
Many live with pain--some, all of their lives. We may never know the extent of their suffering--but time tells all. The stories of millions of women around the world are told in their eyes--but even they can't hide the wrinkles of time---the tapestry of their life.

Third [2026]
How Do I Feel Pain? It's Complicated.
NoorAl Kaabi
"This artwork captures the visceral experience of pain and delirium in the intensive care unit (ICU). A woman lies in her hospital bed, her skin flushed red, symbolizing agony the body’s distress under illness and medical intervention. Her hair transforms into a dense and tangled jungle — her mind is both sanctuary and a nightmare. Through this piece, I explore the delicate balance between alleviating suffering and the cognitive consequences of sedation. The question “What do I do for pain?” is not only personal but deeply ethical. Physicians are tasked with understanding the evolving landscape of pain management. Recent evidence favors multimodal pain relief strategies over excessive sedation to reduce ICU delirium and cognitive impairment. The historical reliance on benzodiazepines is waning, while non-pharmacologic interventions such as early mobility gain favour. This piece invites the viewer to step into this complex intersection of medicine, ethics, and human vulnerability—where every decision carries consequences, and relief is often inseparable from consequences.
Meg Neufeld
Ceramic fragments integrated with acrylic paint, sand, yarn and gold leaf on wood panel.
I created this ceramic vessel after my twentieth surgery. When nerve weakness in my hand caused it to slip and break, I was devastated. What once symbolized perseverance echoed fragility. Repaired with gold, the vessel blooms into something new. Complementary paint colours mixed with sand reflect the discomfort and tolerance of chronic pain. Knotted strands of yarn show how opposite emotions coexist throughout the pain journey: we meet limits and exceed them while building resilience; we feel alone and find belonging by sharing stories; we grieve our former life and move forward courageously. How do I feel pain? It’s complicated.

Still Here. Still Hurting. Pain Is Not One Thing.
NoorAl Kaabi
"This artwork captures the visceral experience of pain and delirium in the intensive care unit (ICU). A woman lies in her hospital bed, her skin flushed red, symbolizing agony the body’s distress under illness and medical intervention. Her hair transforms into a dense and tangled jungle — her mind is both sanctuary and a nightmare. Through this piece, I explore the delicate balance between alleviating suffering and the cognitive consequences of sedation. The question “What do I do for pain?” is not only personal but deeply ethical. Physicians are tasked with understanding the evolving landscape of pain management. Recent evidence favors multimodal pain relief strategies over excessive sedation to reduce ICU delirium and cognitive impairment. The historical reliance on benzodiazepines is waning, while non-pharmacologic interventions such as early mobility gain favour. This piece invites the viewer to step into this complex intersection of medicine, ethics, and human vulnerability—where every decision carries consequences, and relief is often inseparable from consequences.
KiKi Abbott Moore
Pastel, mixed media on parchment paper, using somatic release to express pain and grief.
This piece explores how pain is lived rather than measured. Drawing from infant loss, endometriosis, and long-term mental health impacts, it examines how grief and physical illness co-exist in the same body. Pain is not linear, isolated, or resolved by time or treatment. Instead, it accumulates, shifts, and resurfaces-often invisibly. This submssion challenges the separation between emotional and physical pain, showing how reproductive loss and chronic disease create persistent, ebmodied experience. It speaks to the daily work of functioning, caregiving, surviving while carrying pain that has no clear endpoint or cure.

The Xylophone Spine
NoorAl Kaabi
"This artwork captures the visceral experience of pain and delirium in the intensive care unit (ICU). A woman lies in her hospital bed, her skin flushed red, symbolizing agony the body’s distress under illness and medical intervention. Her hair transforms into a dense and tangled jungle — her mind is both sanctuary and a nightmare. Through this piece, I explore the delicate balance between alleviating suffering and the cognitive consequences of sedation. The question “What do I do for pain?” is not only personal but deeply ethical. Physicians are tasked with understanding the evolving landscape of pain management. Recent evidence favors multimodal pain relief strategies over excessive sedation to reduce ICU delirium and cognitive impairment. The historical reliance on benzodiazepines is waning, while non-pharmacologic interventions such as early mobility gain favour. This piece invites the viewer to step into this complex intersection of medicine, ethics, and human vulnerability—where every decision carries consequences, and relief is often inseparable from consequences.
Aseel Alshawa
Digital Art created using Clip Studio Paint Pro.
As an architect with a demanding career, I live with the fluctuating reality of chronic cervical pain. This artwork is based on my own MRI where I re-imagined my spine as a xylophone. The idea is to illustrate the radiation of music as pain using high-intensity color strokes with varying frequencies. It's meant to be a blueprint of how it feels to live with a nervous system that never goes quiet.

Avant l’explosion
NoorAl Kaabi
"This artwork captures the visceral experience of pain and delirium in the intensive care unit (ICU). A woman lies in her hospital bed, her skin flushed red, symbolizing agony the body’s distress under illness and medical intervention. Her hair transforms into a dense and tangled jungle — her mind is both sanctuary and a nightmare. Through this piece, I explore the delicate balance between alleviating suffering and the cognitive consequences of sedation. The question “What do I do for pain?” is not only personal but deeply ethical. Physicians are tasked with understanding the evolving landscape of pain management. Recent evidence favors multimodal pain relief strategies over excessive sedation to reduce ICU delirium and cognitive impairment. The historical reliance on benzodiazepines is waning, while non-pharmacologic interventions such as early mobility gain favour. This piece invites the viewer to step into this complex intersection of medicine, ethics, and human vulnerability—where every decision carries consequences, and relief is often inseparable from consequences.
Caroline Bellemare
Art classique créé à l’aide de crayons de couleurs Prismacolor
Quand la douleur physique rejoint celle de l'âme, une décharge s'amorce en moi. Elle brûle tout sur son passage. Mes veines s'enflamment, mon cœur s'emballe, mes muscles se crispent, mes pensées se heurtent et les souvenirs ressurgissent. Ma volonté demeure, mais mon corps se fige. L'alarme retentit : AVANCER 🟰 DANGER. Je reste immobile. Une entité garde le contrôle. La honte, la rage et la douleur m'enchaînent. Seule au fond de ma tranchée, prisonnière du passé, je suffoque derrière ce masque. L'explosion est imminente. Je reste figée...

Time Dichotomy
NoorAl Kaabi
"This artwork captures the visceral experience of pain and delirium in the intensive care unit (ICU). A woman lies in her hospital bed, her skin flushed red, symbolizing agony the body’s distress under illness and medical intervention. Her hair transforms into a dense and tangled jungle — her mind is both sanctuary and a nightmare. Through this piece, I explore the delicate balance between alleviating suffering and the cognitive consequences of sedation. The question “What do I do for pain?” is not only personal but deeply ethical. Physicians are tasked with understanding the evolving landscape of pain management. Recent evidence favors multimodal pain relief strategies over excessive sedation to reduce ICU delirium and cognitive impairment. The historical reliance on benzodiazepines is waning, while non-pharmacologic interventions such as early mobility gain favour. This piece invites the viewer to step into this complex intersection of medicine, ethics, and human vulnerability—where every decision carries consequences, and relief is often inseparable from consequences.
Josee Brunel
Drawing with graphite pencils, colored pencils, markers and watercolor
In pain, time stands still. You feel the persistent, sharp, exhausting pain in every single breath. Time is slowed down. At the same time, time passes too quickly, missing precious moments in our lives. Days, weeks, months, and years pass, while pain freezes us in time.

Like water
NoorAl Kaabi
"This artwork captures the visceral experience of pain and delirium in the intensive care unit (ICU). A woman lies in her hospital bed, her skin flushed red, symbolizing agony the body’s distress under illness and medical intervention. Her hair transforms into a dense and tangled jungle — her mind is both sanctuary and a nightmare. Through this piece, I explore the delicate balance between alleviating suffering and the cognitive consequences of sedation. The question “What do I do for pain?” is not only personal but deeply ethical. Physicians are tasked with understanding the evolving landscape of pain management. Recent evidence favors multimodal pain relief strategies over excessive sedation to reduce ICU delirium and cognitive impairment. The historical reliance on benzodiazepines is waning, while non-pharmacologic interventions such as early mobility gain favour. This piece invites the viewer to step into this complex intersection of medicine, ethics, and human vulnerability—where every decision carries consequences, and relief is often inseparable from consequences.
Amy Doucet
Short poem
This poem explores pain as something fluid and ever‑changing, like water shifting between forms. By tracing its movement, the piece reflects how pain can feel scattered, unclear, or impossible to grasp. The imagery mirrors the lived experience of bodily and emotional discomfort — how pain intensifies when it lacks definition, and softens when met with breath, grounding, and safety. Ultimately, the poem suggests that understanding pain begins with noticing its movement rather than trying to contain it

Plaque & Circumstance
NoorAl Kaabi
"This artwork captures the visceral experience of pain and delirium in the intensive care unit (ICU). A woman lies in her hospital bed, her skin flushed red, symbolizing agony the body’s distress under illness and medical intervention. Her hair transforms into a dense and tangled jungle — her mind is both sanctuary and a nightmare. Through this piece, I explore the delicate balance between alleviating suffering and the cognitive consequences of sedation. The question “What do I do for pain?” is not only personal but deeply ethical. Physicians are tasked with understanding the evolving landscape of pain management. Recent evidence favors multimodal pain relief strategies over excessive sedation to reduce ICU delirium and cognitive impairment. The historical reliance on benzodiazepines is waning, while non-pharmacologic interventions such as early mobility gain favour. This piece invites the viewer to step into this complex intersection of medicine, ethics, and human vulnerability—where every decision carries consequences, and relief is often inseparable from consequences.
Judy Duggan-McCormack
Embroidery on aged vintage cotton
This piece presents a playful yet slightly dark fairytale scene inspired by old folklore. Small elven creatures perform dental work using antique carpenter’s tools . While the scene carries humor, it also hints at discomfort. The exaggerated setting reflects how our understanding of anguish is shaped by personal history and memory. Physical sensation is only part of the story; emotion, anticipation, and past experience all deepen it. By pairing whimsy with unease, the work suggests that suffering is rarely simple. Even in a fantastical world, tending to damage reveals how layered and complicated our reactions can be.
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D’la tête aux pieds — lyrics
NoorAl Kaabi
"This artwork captures the visceral experience of pain and delirium in the intensive care unit (ICU). A woman lies in her hospital bed, her skin flushed red, symbolizing agony the body’s distress under illness and medical intervention. Her hair transforms into a dense and tangled jungle — her mind is both sanctuary and a nightmare. Through this piece, I explore the delicate balance between alleviating suffering and the cognitive consequences of sedation. The question “What do I do for pain?” is not only personal but deeply ethical. Physicians are tasked with understanding the evolving landscape of pain management. Recent evidence favors multimodal pain relief strategies over excessive sedation to reduce ICU delirium and cognitive impairment. The historical reliance on benzodiazepines is waning, while non-pharmacologic interventions such as early mobility gain favour. This piece invites the viewer to step into this complex intersection of medicine, ethics, and human vulnerability—where every decision carries consequences, and relief is often inseparable from consequences.
Melinda Durand-Dugas
Lyrics presented with a clean, minimalist digital layout.
How can pain be shared without overwhelming others or slipping into self-pity? D’la tête aux pieds offers an honest yet humorous response.
Borrowing a familiar French-Canadian expression, the poem takes us on a playful journey through the body, addressing both the personal and social challenges of chronic pain.
While these words later inspired a song and a lyrical video, they are presented here as a complete work in themselves—offering an alternative way of moving through life. A different rhythm. A lighter breath.

The Weight of Always
NoorAl Kaabi
"This artwork captures the visceral experience of pain and delirium in the intensive care unit (ICU). A woman lies in her hospital bed, her skin flushed red, symbolizing agony the body’s distress under illness and medical intervention. Her hair transforms into a dense and tangled jungle — her mind is both sanctuary and a nightmare. Through this piece, I explore the delicate balance between alleviating suffering and the cognitive consequences of sedation. The question “What do I do for pain?” is not only personal but deeply ethical. Physicians are tasked with understanding the evolving landscape of pain management. Recent evidence favors multimodal pain relief strategies over excessive sedation to reduce ICU delirium and cognitive impairment. The historical reliance on benzodiazepines is waning, while non-pharmacologic interventions such as early mobility gain favour. This piece invites the viewer to step into this complex intersection of medicine, ethics, and human vulnerability—where every decision carries consequences, and relief is often inseparable from consequences.
Jasmine Eklund
Charcoal drawing, with burned tracing paper
You're invited to look closely- not just at the face, but through it, to experience what it's like to live with chronic pain. It speaks to the invisible nature of pain and how much of it is felt internally, even when the outside world can't see it.
It represents how people can feel different types of pain and feel them differently. But, no matter what type of pain they feel, eyes reflect what they are going through. Pain is there in someone's eyes even when there are no other physical signs.

The Tortured Torturer
NoorAl Kaabi
"This artwork captures the visceral experience of pain and delirium in the intensive care unit (ICU). A woman lies in her hospital bed, her skin flushed red, symbolizing agony the body’s distress under illness and medical intervention. Her hair transforms into a dense and tangled jungle — her mind is both sanctuary and a nightmare. Through this piece, I explore the delicate balance between alleviating suffering and the cognitive consequences of sedation. The question “What do I do for pain?” is not only personal but deeply ethical. Physicians are tasked with understanding the evolving landscape of pain management. Recent evidence favors multimodal pain relief strategies over excessive sedation to reduce ICU delirium and cognitive impairment. The historical reliance on benzodiazepines is waning, while non-pharmacologic interventions such as early mobility gain favour. This piece invites the viewer to step into this complex intersection of medicine, ethics, and human vulnerability—where every decision carries consequences, and relief is often inseparable from consequences.
Niama Errafii
My Medium was oil paint on canvas. I played with lightning and used the classical chiaroscuro technique.
While I’ve struggled with persistent physical pain and a lifelong illness that I was born and still struggle with, my worst pain was from within. We often forget the severity psychological pain, and it’s consequences. I personally used to struggle with self harm. The pain of the cuts were constant but what was even more painful was the addiction and guilt. As part of my recovery, I made this painting that portrays the ruthless cycle, how lonely and painful self harm felt to me. I hope those with similar struggles will be comforted when seeing my artwork, by realizing their not alone in their struggles.

My Theory of Suffering
NoorAl Kaabi
"This artwork captures the visceral experience of pain and delirium in the intensive care unit (ICU). A woman lies in her hospital bed, her skin flushed red, symbolizing agony the body’s distress under illness and medical intervention. Her hair transforms into a dense and tangled jungle — her mind is both sanctuary and a nightmare. Through this piece, I explore the delicate balance between alleviating suffering and the cognitive consequences of sedation. The question “What do I do for pain?” is not only personal but deeply ethical. Physicians are tasked with understanding the evolving landscape of pain management. Recent evidence favors multimodal pain relief strategies over excessive sedation to reduce ICU delirium and cognitive impairment. The historical reliance on benzodiazepines is waning, while non-pharmacologic interventions such as early mobility gain favour. This piece invites the viewer to step into this complex intersection of medicine, ethics, and human vulnerability—where every decision carries consequences, and relief is often inseparable from consequences.
Reilly Fitzgerald
Acrylic paint on stretched canvas 12” X 9” acrylic on canvas
This is my abstract depiction of mt suffering experience, which in itself is an abstract experience.
The piece is immersed in blackness, but there are segments of colour and elements of starlight seeping through; it is these segments of my life which I must focus on in order to get any relief, distraction, and any sense of purpose in a life that otherwise could drown a person in negativity.

Immersed
NoorAl Kaabi
"This artwork captures the visceral experience of pain and delirium in the intensive care unit (ICU). A woman lies in her hospital bed, her skin flushed red, symbolizing agony the body’s distress under illness and medical intervention. Her hair transforms into a dense and tangled jungle — her mind is both sanctuary and a nightmare. Through this piece, I explore the delicate balance between alleviating suffering and the cognitive consequences of sedation. The question “What do I do for pain?” is not only personal but deeply ethical. Physicians are tasked with understanding the evolving landscape of pain management. Recent evidence favors multimodal pain relief strategies over excessive sedation to reduce ICU delirium and cognitive impairment. The historical reliance on benzodiazepines is waning, while non-pharmacologic interventions such as early mobility gain favour. This piece invites the viewer to step into this complex intersection of medicine, ethics, and human vulnerability—where every decision carries consequences, and relief is often inseparable from consequences.
Lisa Kimberly Glickman
Acrylic and mixed media on canvas
I try to escape the pain through sleep. Sometimes I feel as though I am underwater..………sleep illudes me

My Mother's Son
NoorAl Kaabi
"This artwork captures the visceral experience of pain and delirium in the intensive care unit (ICU). A woman lies in her hospital bed, her skin flushed red, symbolizing agony the body’s distress under illness and medical intervention. Her hair transforms into a dense and tangled jungle — her mind is both sanctuary and a nightmare. Through this piece, I explore the delicate balance between alleviating suffering and the cognitive consequences of sedation. The question “What do I do for pain?” is not only personal but deeply ethical. Physicians are tasked with understanding the evolving landscape of pain management. Recent evidence favors multimodal pain relief strategies over excessive sedation to reduce ICU delirium and cognitive impairment. The historical reliance on benzodiazepines is waning, while non-pharmacologic interventions such as early mobility gain favour. This piece invites the viewer to step into this complex intersection of medicine, ethics, and human vulnerability—where every decision carries consequences, and relief is often inseparable from consequences.
Nadine Hallgrimson
Mixed media, acrylic and ink
My brother endured pain for over a year; the bones in his foot breaking down due to diabetes and a severe infection. Following amputation, he is now pain-free. Watching him wheel into Rehab, my heart went heavy; it’s just the two of us now. But somehow, I could feel our mom’s love and warmth pushing us forward through an open door, towards the unknown of what lies ahead for his recovery and future. The number XXIX symbolizes our family past and present and brings us true strength and comfort. Pain has four letters, but so does love.

Abstruse
NoorAl Kaabi
"This artwork captures the visceral experience of pain and delirium in the intensive care unit (ICU). A woman lies in her hospital bed, her skin flushed red, symbolizing agony the body’s distress under illness and medical intervention. Her hair transforms into a dense and tangled jungle — her mind is both sanctuary and a nightmare. Through this piece, I explore the delicate balance between alleviating suffering and the cognitive consequences of sedation. The question “What do I do for pain?” is not only personal but deeply ethical. Physicians are tasked with understanding the evolving landscape of pain management. Recent evidence favors multimodal pain relief strategies over excessive sedation to reduce ICU delirium and cognitive impairment. The historical reliance on benzodiazepines is waning, while non-pharmacologic interventions such as early mobility gain favour. This piece invites the viewer to step into this complex intersection of medicine, ethics, and human vulnerability—where every decision carries consequences, and relief is often inseparable from consequences.
Dana Hangle
With an 8x10 board and using acrylic paints, photography, my found poem, my drawing, and red string, I constructed, "Abstruse".
The base tones reflect my love of the outdoors. The three photos are of me when I was three years of age. I was fortunate to be born healthy; I was active until 2013. The poem begins by announcing the first hemorrhage in my left thalamus (due to a cavernous angioma), coming home from the hospital, shock, disbelief, chronic pain, and challenges therein. At the bottom, a half skeleton and strings. The strings, a jail motif, are done in red to represent blood. I call this piece, "Abstruse” because Central Pain Syndrome is difficult to understand and address.

It's All In Your Head (Paralysis)
NoorAl Kaabi
"This artwork captures the visceral experience of pain and delirium in the intensive care unit (ICU). A woman lies in her hospital bed, her skin flushed red, symbolizing agony the body’s distress under illness and medical intervention. Her hair transforms into a dense and tangled jungle — her mind is both sanctuary and a nightmare. Through this piece, I explore the delicate balance between alleviating suffering and the cognitive consequences of sedation. The question “What do I do for pain?” is not only personal but deeply ethical. Physicians are tasked with understanding the evolving landscape of pain management. Recent evidence favors multimodal pain relief strategies over excessive sedation to reduce ICU delirium and cognitive impairment. The historical reliance on benzodiazepines is waning, while non-pharmacologic interventions such as early mobility gain favour. This piece invites the viewer to step into this complex intersection of medicine, ethics, and human vulnerability—where every decision carries consequences, and relief is often inseparable from consequences.
Larissa Hauck
Acrylic painting on canvas
This self-portrait highlights my personal battles with mental illness and the paralyzing anxiety I have fought within myself for longer than I can remember. It was created around a pivotal moment in my healing and represents how anxiety blinds us to reality.

Rooted
NoorAl Kaabi
"This artwork captures the visceral experience of pain and delirium in the intensive care unit (ICU). A woman lies in her hospital bed, her skin flushed red, symbolizing agony the body’s distress under illness and medical intervention. Her hair transforms into a dense and tangled jungle — her mind is both sanctuary and a nightmare. Through this piece, I explore the delicate balance between alleviating suffering and the cognitive consequences of sedation. The question “What do I do for pain?” is not only personal but deeply ethical. Physicians are tasked with understanding the evolving landscape of pain management. Recent evidence favors multimodal pain relief strategies over excessive sedation to reduce ICU delirium and cognitive impairment. The historical reliance on benzodiazepines is waning, while non-pharmacologic interventions such as early mobility gain favour. This piece invites the viewer to step into this complex intersection of medicine, ethics, and human vulnerability—where every decision carries consequences, and relief is often inseparable from consequences.
Jonathan Isenor
Created by drawing, arcylic painting and some paint markers.
In this piece, I'm the tree clinging to the cliff,and the crashing waves are my chronic pain. The rugged cliffside represents the fractured reality of a body in constant conflict from ankylosing spondylitis. My roots reach deep into the stone, not just to survive the raging storm,but to protect the sanctuaries that keep me whole:The love of my cats,the warmth of my wife and having coffee with her,my love of painting. This painting illustrates that while the waves of pain are relentless,my life is defined by the strength it takes to stay grounded.

Too Little Too Late
NoorAl Kaabi
"This artwork captures the visceral experience of pain and delirium in the intensive care unit (ICU). A woman lies in her hospital bed, her skin flushed red, symbolizing agony the body’s distress under illness and medical intervention. Her hair transforms into a dense and tangled jungle — her mind is both sanctuary and a nightmare. Through this piece, I explore the delicate balance between alleviating suffering and the cognitive consequences of sedation. The question “What do I do for pain?” is not only personal but deeply ethical. Physicians are tasked with understanding the evolving landscape of pain management. Recent evidence favors multimodal pain relief strategies over excessive sedation to reduce ICU delirium and cognitive impairment. The historical reliance on benzodiazepines is waning, while non-pharmacologic interventions such as early mobility gain favour. This piece invites the viewer to step into this complex intersection of medicine, ethics, and human vulnerability—where every decision carries consequences, and relief is often inseparable from consequences.
Christopher Jackson
Felt, hand drawn. My medium is pen and ink. I order to make this piece hit with maximum impact I took a bold and strong approach.
Men's mental health is an example of silent pain and suffering often resulting in suicide. Its a hidden pain most men suffer from and do not know there is help.

Fix My Addiction (FMA)
NoorAl Kaabi
"This artwork captures the visceral experience of pain and delirium in the intensive care unit (ICU). A woman lies in her hospital bed, her skin flushed red, symbolizing agony the body’s distress under illness and medical intervention. Her hair transforms into a dense and tangled jungle — her mind is both sanctuary and a nightmare. Through this piece, I explore the delicate balance between alleviating suffering and the cognitive consequences of sedation. The question “What do I do for pain?” is not only personal but deeply ethical. Physicians are tasked with understanding the evolving landscape of pain management. Recent evidence favors multimodal pain relief strategies over excessive sedation to reduce ICU delirium and cognitive impairment. The historical reliance on benzodiazepines is waning, while non-pharmacologic interventions such as early mobility gain favour. This piece invites the viewer to step into this complex intersection of medicine, ethics, and human vulnerability—where every decision carries consequences, and relief is often inseparable from consequences.
Bahram Jam
A poem to pass on the message of compassion for those living with pain & addiction
The video is on the YouTube Link
https://youtu.be/4YakDV4shbE
A poem plus a 3 minute video showing that addiction is an attempt to escape PAIN. No addiction can be "fixed" unless one can truly address the pain.

Ignis Fragilitas (Fragility of Fire)
NoorAl Kaabi
"This artwork captures the visceral experience of pain and delirium in the intensive care unit (ICU). A woman lies in her hospital bed, her skin flushed red, symbolizing agony the body’s distress under illness and medical intervention. Her hair transforms into a dense and tangled jungle — her mind is both sanctuary and a nightmare. Through this piece, I explore the delicate balance between alleviating suffering and the cognitive consequences of sedation. The question “What do I do for pain?” is not only personal but deeply ethical. Physicians are tasked with understanding the evolving landscape of pain management. Recent evidence favors multimodal pain relief strategies over excessive sedation to reduce ICU delirium and cognitive impairment. The historical reliance on benzodiazepines is waning, while non-pharmacologic interventions such as early mobility gain favour. This piece invites the viewer to step into this complex intersection of medicine, ethics, and human vulnerability—where every decision carries consequences, and relief is often inseparable from consequences.
Ravnoor Kaur
Pastel drawing using soft pastels
My drawing explores how fragile yet resilient our bodies can be and how important it is to appreciate those around us even when we or our loved ones are dealing with pain of any sort; to appreciate and be grateful for the beautiful family and caregivers we have in our lives. The burning butterflies are a symbol of this. Fire represents destruction but metamorphosis. A reminder that sometimes the physical struggles we endure help us and those around us to transform and be better to one another - in some ways reveal the beauty of our enduring and caring souls.

Walking Into The Unknown
NoorAl Kaabi
"This artwork captures the visceral experience of pain and delirium in the intensive care unit (ICU). A woman lies in her hospital bed, her skin flushed red, symbolizing agony the body’s distress under illness and medical intervention. Her hair transforms into a dense and tangled jungle — her mind is both sanctuary and a nightmare. Through this piece, I explore the delicate balance between alleviating suffering and the cognitive consequences of sedation. The question “What do I do for pain?” is not only personal but deeply ethical. Physicians are tasked with understanding the evolving landscape of pain management. Recent evidence favors multimodal pain relief strategies over excessive sedation to reduce ICU delirium and cognitive impairment. The historical reliance on benzodiazepines is waning, while non-pharmacologic interventions such as early mobility gain favour. This piece invites the viewer to step into this complex intersection of medicine, ethics, and human vulnerability—where every decision carries consequences, and relief is often inseparable from consequences.
Samantha Kelly
This piece was created with watercolour and crayon on white heavyweight cold-pressed watercolour paper.
I feel as though I am in a state of limbo. Of stuckness. The pain is all consuming. It is layered. It creeps. I feel distorted. Numb. Staying here, being consumed by the pain, is not an option. But the path forward is terrifying. It is an abyss of confusion, helplessness, anger, and fear. So much fear. I am afraid to move forward. I take one last look at where I have come from. All the effort and disappointment that has led me here. I don’t want to do this alone. It’s time to get unstuck.

A Body In Translation
NoorAl Kaabi
"This artwork captures the visceral experience of pain and delirium in the intensive care unit (ICU). A woman lies in her hospital bed, her skin flushed red, symbolizing agony the body’s distress under illness and medical intervention. Her hair transforms into a dense and tangled jungle — her mind is both sanctuary and a nightmare. Through this piece, I explore the delicate balance between alleviating suffering and the cognitive consequences of sedation. The question “What do I do for pain?” is not only personal but deeply ethical. Physicians are tasked with understanding the evolving landscape of pain management. Recent evidence favors multimodal pain relief strategies over excessive sedation to reduce ICU delirium and cognitive impairment. The historical reliance on benzodiazepines is waning, while non-pharmacologic interventions such as early mobility gain favour. This piece invites the viewer to step into this complex intersection of medicine, ethics, and human vulnerability—where every decision carries consequences, and relief is often inseparable from consequences.
Avery Lee
Digital art using Procreate.
This piece explores chronic pain as a personal divide between the body and self. The girl’s unraveling reflects how ongoing pain can quietly reshape a person from the inside, isolating them in ways others may never see. Within that breaking is also a sense of movement and adaptation, mirroring the daily effort to live alongside discomfort. I wanted this work to speak to the human act of learning to carry pain, and to the quiet courage of those who embrace it, and endure it in silence.

How Pain Falls inside Me
NoorAl Kaabi
"This artwork captures the visceral experience of pain and delirium in the intensive care unit (ICU). A woman lies in her hospital bed, her skin flushed red, symbolizing agony the body’s distress under illness and medical intervention. Her hair transforms into a dense and tangled jungle — her mind is both sanctuary and a nightmare. Through this piece, I explore the delicate balance between alleviating suffering and the cognitive consequences of sedation. The question “What do I do for pain?” is not only personal but deeply ethical. Physicians are tasked with understanding the evolving landscape of pain management. Recent evidence favors multimodal pain relief strategies over excessive sedation to reduce ICU delirium and cognitive impairment. The historical reliance on benzodiazepines is waning, while non-pharmacologic interventions such as early mobility gain favour. This piece invites the viewer to step into this complex intersection of medicine, ethics, and human vulnerability—where every decision carries consequences, and relief is often inseparable from consequences.
Jessie Li
Watercolor
This painting explores how pain falls inside rather than around us. The mermaid represents a young person experiencing emotions that cannot be escaped. The cloud above her releases rain that seems to sink inward, showing how sadness and stress are absorbed silently. As a creature of water, she feels everything more deeply. Her curled posture suggests self-protection and reflection. The artwork connects emotional pain with mental health, showing that pain does not always crash loudly—it often falls gently and stays.

Harmony in Chaos: The Colors of Chronic Pain
NoorAl Kaabi
"This artwork captures the visceral experience of pain and delirium in the intensive care unit (ICU). A woman lies in her hospital bed, her skin flushed red, symbolizing agony the body’s distress under illness and medical intervention. Her hair transforms into a dense and tangled jungle — her mind is both sanctuary and a nightmare. Through this piece, I explore the delicate balance between alleviating suffering and the cognitive consequences of sedation. The question “What do I do for pain?” is not only personal but deeply ethical. Physicians are tasked with understanding the evolving landscape of pain management. Recent evidence favors multimodal pain relief strategies over excessive sedation to reduce ICU delirium and cognitive impairment. The historical reliance on benzodiazepines is waning, while non-pharmacologic interventions such as early mobility gain favour. This piece invites the viewer to step into this complex intersection of medicine, ethics, and human vulnerability—where every decision carries consequences, and relief is often inseparable from consequences.
Jaime Lougheed
Handmade, acrylic pour
My artwork, "Harmony in Chaos: The Colours of Chronic Pain," is a vivid metaphor for my life with chronic pain, shared with my twin 10-year-olds who face their own health struggles. The swirling reds, blues, and whites on the canvas reflect the unpredictable and isolating nature of our pain. Yet, amidst the darker hues, lighter tones suggest hope, capturing fleeting moments of joy and tranquillity. This piece embodies my personal journey and aims to inspire empathy and understanding for those living with chronic conditions, celebrating the resilience we find amid chaos.

ALTO
NoorAl Kaabi
"This artwork captures the visceral experience of pain and delirium in the intensive care unit (ICU). A woman lies in her hospital bed, her skin flushed red, symbolizing agony the body’s distress under illness and medical intervention. Her hair transforms into a dense and tangled jungle — her mind is both sanctuary and a nightmare. Through this piece, I explore the delicate balance between alleviating suffering and the cognitive consequences of sedation. The question “What do I do for pain?” is not only personal but deeply ethical. Physicians are tasked with understanding the evolving landscape of pain management. Recent evidence favors multimodal pain relief strategies over excessive sedation to reduce ICU delirium and cognitive impairment. The historical reliance on benzodiazepines is waning, while non-pharmacologic interventions such as early mobility gain favour. This piece invites the viewer to step into this complex intersection of medicine, ethics, and human vulnerability—where every decision carries consequences, and relief is often inseparable from consequences.
Sam McEwan
Pen and marker
This was Alto. He was terrifying, horrific and bad. He represented my pain that I beat after many battles.

Exister avec ce qui reste
NoorAl Kaabi
"This artwork captures the visceral experience of pain and delirium in the intensive care unit (ICU). A woman lies in her hospital bed, her skin flushed red, symbolizing agony the body’s distress under illness and medical intervention. Her hair transforms into a dense and tangled jungle — her mind is both sanctuary and a nightmare. Through this piece, I explore the delicate balance between alleviating suffering and the cognitive consequences of sedation. The question “What do I do for pain?” is not only personal but deeply ethical. Physicians are tasked with understanding the evolving landscape of pain management. Recent evidence favors multimodal pain relief strategies over excessive sedation to reduce ICU delirium and cognitive impairment. The historical reliance on benzodiazepines is waning, while non-pharmacologic interventions such as early mobility gain favour. This piece invites the viewer to step into this complex intersection of medicine, ethics, and human vulnerability—where every decision carries consequences, and relief is often inseparable from consequences.
Tatiana Noël
Dessin a la main avec stylo à dessin technique marron à pointe fine 0,5 pour architecte sur papier de croquis lisse.
La douleur, l'autre partie de vous qui vous colle mais ne disparaît pas par choix ni par soin, accepter les douleurs de la maladie, se relever chaque jour pour dire oui à la vie, oui je me transforme.

Pain Can Be…
NoorAl Kaabi
"This artwork captures the visceral experience of pain and delirium in the intensive care unit (ICU). A woman lies in her hospital bed, her skin flushed red, symbolizing agony the body’s distress under illness and medical intervention. Her hair transforms into a dense and tangled jungle — her mind is both sanctuary and a nightmare. Through this piece, I explore the delicate balance between alleviating suffering and the cognitive consequences of sedation. The question “What do I do for pain?” is not only personal but deeply ethical. Physicians are tasked with understanding the evolving landscape of pain management. Recent evidence favors multimodal pain relief strategies over excessive sedation to reduce ICU delirium and cognitive impairment. The historical reliance on benzodiazepines is waning, while non-pharmacologic interventions such as early mobility gain favour. This piece invites the viewer to step into this complex intersection of medicine, ethics, and human vulnerability—where every decision carries consequences, and relief is often inseparable from consequences.
Joni Olitch
Acrostic structure, poetic language, reflective and clinical descriptors, explicit shift cue.
This poem explores how pain can feel overwhelming, intrusive, and all-consuming, but also informative and protective. Using descriptive words for both the challenging and helpful aspects of pain, it illustrates how listening to the body can reveal patterns, insights, and guidance. The poem highlights that while pain can dominate attention, it also offers wisdom, signals boundaries, and points toward a more intentional and integrative way of living. It is intended to help health professionals understand the complex, nuanced experience of pain from a first-person perspective.

Body map
NoorAl Kaabi
"This artwork captures the visceral experience of pain and delirium in the intensive care unit (ICU). A woman lies in her hospital bed, her skin flushed red, symbolizing agony the body’s distress under illness and medical intervention. Her hair transforms into a dense and tangled jungle — her mind is both sanctuary and a nightmare. Through this piece, I explore the delicate balance between alleviating suffering and the cognitive consequences of sedation. The question “What do I do for pain?” is not only personal but deeply ethical. Physicians are tasked with understanding the evolving landscape of pain management. Recent evidence favors multimodal pain relief strategies over excessive sedation to reduce ICU delirium and cognitive impairment. The historical reliance on benzodiazepines is waning, while non-pharmacologic interventions such as early mobility gain favour. This piece invites the viewer to step into this complex intersection of medicine, ethics, and human vulnerability—where every decision carries consequences, and relief is often inseparable from consequences.
Lia Pas
Hand embroidered cotton thread on linen.
I embroidered my myalgic encephalomyeltis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) symptoms—pain, tingling, and tension—on this pale outline of a woman as I experienced them over a period of three months. The colours and textures evoke different degrees of sensation, some strong and thick, others mild and numerous.

Detachment: Dissociation
NoorAl Kaabi
"This artwork captures the visceral experience of pain and delirium in the intensive care unit (ICU). A woman lies in her hospital bed, her skin flushed red, symbolizing agony the body’s distress under illness and medical intervention. Her hair transforms into a dense and tangled jungle — her mind is both sanctuary and a nightmare. Through this piece, I explore the delicate balance between alleviating suffering and the cognitive consequences of sedation. The question “What do I do for pain?” is not only personal but deeply ethical. Physicians are tasked with understanding the evolving landscape of pain management. Recent evidence favors multimodal pain relief strategies over excessive sedation to reduce ICU delirium and cognitive impairment. The historical reliance on benzodiazepines is waning, while non-pharmacologic interventions such as early mobility gain favour. This piece invites the viewer to step into this complex intersection of medicine, ethics, and human vulnerability—where every decision carries consequences, and relief is often inseparable from consequences.
Gwyneth Raene Ramas
Traditional art with colored pencils
The brain is a fascinating thing. Unwanted sensations can be detached from our body as we all go through this phase of dissociation. It can be both a blessing and a curse.

Carrying Pain, What Remains
NoorAl Kaabi
"This artwork captures the visceral experience of pain and delirium in the intensive care unit (ICU). A woman lies in her hospital bed, her skin flushed red, symbolizing agony the body’s distress under illness and medical intervention. Her hair transforms into a dense and tangled jungle — her mind is both sanctuary and a nightmare. Through this piece, I explore the delicate balance between alleviating suffering and the cognitive consequences of sedation. The question “What do I do for pain?” is not only personal but deeply ethical. Physicians are tasked with understanding the evolving landscape of pain management. Recent evidence favors multimodal pain relief strategies over excessive sedation to reduce ICU delirium and cognitive impairment. The historical reliance on benzodiazepines is waning, while non-pharmacologic interventions such as early mobility gain favour. This piece invites the viewer to step into this complex intersection of medicine, ethics, and human vulnerability—where every decision carries consequences, and relief is often inseparable from consequences.
Justin Sacksner
Poetry, photography, mixed-media storytelling, narrative medicine, lived-experience reflection
Carrying Pain, What Remains reflects on witnessing my aunt’s life change profoundly through chronic pain. Through poetry and image, the work traces how pain alters time, roles, memory, and the body, not only for the person in pain, but also for those who love them. Set within both clinical and domestic spaces, it captures the quiet endurance, losses, and adaptations that follow, while honoring what persists beyond suffering: care, identity, and presence. The piece challenges pain as a singular symptom, presenting it instead as a lived, relational experience that reshapes life.

What Grows Through Pain
NoorAl Kaabi
"This artwork captures the visceral experience of pain and delirium in the intensive care unit (ICU). A woman lies in her hospital bed, her skin flushed red, symbolizing agony the body’s distress under illness and medical intervention. Her hair transforms into a dense and tangled jungle — her mind is both sanctuary and a nightmare. Through this piece, I explore the delicate balance between alleviating suffering and the cognitive consequences of sedation. The question “What do I do for pain?” is not only personal but deeply ethical. Physicians are tasked with understanding the evolving landscape of pain management. Recent evidence favors multimodal pain relief strategies over excessive sedation to reduce ICU delirium and cognitive impairment. The historical reliance on benzodiazepines is waning, while non-pharmacologic interventions such as early mobility gain favour. This piece invites the viewer to step into this complex intersection of medicine, ethics, and human vulnerability—where every decision carries consequences, and relief is often inseparable from consequences.
Juiena Sagir
The artwork was initially drawn in pencil, reproduced using a printer, and finalized with colored pencils.
This drawing presents pain as a journey rather than a single moment. Pain begins at the roots, symbolizing deep sources of suffering. Along this path, medications within the roots reflect treatment at different stages, while the nearby surgical instrument represents deeper intervention when needed. Water falling from above symbolizes mercy and relief during hardship. Despite ongoing pain, the flower continues to grow, drawing strength from the struggle itself. In the end, it reaches the light and blooms, showing that through endurance, care, and mercy, pain can give rise to strength and growth.

Never Absent Except During Sleep
NoorAl Kaabi
"This artwork captures the visceral experience of pain and delirium in the intensive care unit (ICU). A woman lies in her hospital bed, her skin flushed red, symbolizing agony the body’s distress under illness and medical intervention. Her hair transforms into a dense and tangled jungle — her mind is both sanctuary and a nightmare. Through this piece, I explore the delicate balance between alleviating suffering and the cognitive consequences of sedation. The question “What do I do for pain?” is not only personal but deeply ethical. Physicians are tasked with understanding the evolving landscape of pain management. Recent evidence favors multimodal pain relief strategies over excessive sedation to reduce ICU delirium and cognitive impairment. The historical reliance on benzodiazepines is waning, while non-pharmacologic interventions such as early mobility gain favour. This piece invites the viewer to step into this complex intersection of medicine, ethics, and human vulnerability—where every decision carries consequences, and relief is often inseparable from consequences.
Tim Salomons
Collage, employing National Geographic clippings and an old scientific poster.
The piece explores how pain is felt and experienced, using sun imagery to convey the relentless, burning quality of post-amputation pain—described as “never absent except during sleep.” This embodied, inescapable sensation is set against water imagery, which represents opioid analgesia (visualized using OxyContin tablets). Here, relief is felt as submersion or cooling: pain may recede, but at risk of drifting toward deeper states of numbness, where the boundary between rest, unconsciousness, and permanent sleep becomes dangerously thin.

Poem RELEASE
NoorAl Kaabi
"This artwork captures the visceral experience of pain and delirium in the intensive care unit (ICU). A woman lies in her hospital bed, her skin flushed red, symbolizing agony the body’s distress under illness and medical intervention. Her hair transforms into a dense and tangled jungle — her mind is both sanctuary and a nightmare. Through this piece, I explore the delicate balance between alleviating suffering and the cognitive consequences of sedation. The question “What do I do for pain?” is not only personal but deeply ethical. Physicians are tasked with understanding the evolving landscape of pain management. Recent evidence favors multimodal pain relief strategies over excessive sedation to reduce ICU delirium and cognitive impairment. The historical reliance on benzodiazepines is waning, while non-pharmacologic interventions such as early mobility gain favour. This piece invites the viewer to step into this complex intersection of medicine, ethics, and human vulnerability—where every decision carries consequences, and relief is often inseparable from consequences.
Ilsa Sejean
Original poem
This is an original poem about how living with chronic pain can be very difficult and cause fear and doubt yet also resilience and belief in oneself

Résilience
NoorAl Kaabi
"This artwork captures the visceral experience of pain and delirium in the intensive care unit (ICU). A woman lies in her hospital bed, her skin flushed red, symbolizing agony the body’s distress under illness and medical intervention. Her hair transforms into a dense and tangled jungle — her mind is both sanctuary and a nightmare. Through this piece, I explore the delicate balance between alleviating suffering and the cognitive consequences of sedation. The question “What do I do for pain?” is not only personal but deeply ethical. Physicians are tasked with understanding the evolving landscape of pain management. Recent evidence favors multimodal pain relief strategies over excessive sedation to reduce ICU delirium and cognitive impairment. The historical reliance on benzodiazepines is waning, while non-pharmacologic interventions such as early mobility gain favour. This piece invites the viewer to step into this complex intersection of medicine, ethics, and human vulnerability—where every decision carries consequences, and relief is often inseparable from consequences.
Marie-Line Séguin
Fil métallique torsadé, perles de rocailles et quartz cerise.
Cet arbre de vie est né d’une dépression suivie d’un déclic : choisir la vie. Incapable d’utiliser ma main droite, j’ai appris à créer de la main gauche. Perle par perle, pas à pas, il est devenu mon premier défi, un geste pour réapprendre à vivre avec la douleur. Les spirales évoquent la croissance et le recommencement. Le blanc symbolise la vulnérabilité et la simplicité retrouvée. Un quartz en son cœur incarne l’amour reçu et l’amour pour soi. Les racines rappellent l’ancrage. Le vase zen représente l’acceptation, où la douleur peut exister sans définir l’identité.

God please help me
NoorAl Kaabi
"This artwork captures the visceral experience of pain and delirium in the intensive care unit (ICU). A woman lies in her hospital bed, her skin flushed red, symbolizing agony the body’s distress under illness and medical intervention. Her hair transforms into a dense and tangled jungle — her mind is both sanctuary and a nightmare. Through this piece, I explore the delicate balance between alleviating suffering and the cognitive consequences of sedation. The question “What do I do for pain?” is not only personal but deeply ethical. Physicians are tasked with understanding the evolving landscape of pain management. Recent evidence favors multimodal pain relief strategies over excessive sedation to reduce ICU delirium and cognitive impairment. The historical reliance on benzodiazepines is waning, while non-pharmacologic interventions such as early mobility gain favour. This piece invites the viewer to step into this complex intersection of medicine, ethics, and human vulnerability—where every decision carries consequences, and relief is often inseparable from consequences.
Ana Teodorescu
The painting is made with acrylics on canvas.
This painting shows different approaches to suffering as different paths on a mountain. The protagonist suffers in a hole at the base of the mountain, asks God for help, struggles to climb, and at the top experiences bliss.
Several options are proposed to lighten the suffering. The rower represents courage, the Tai Chi adept represents balance, the dancers represent grace, and the sleeping monk represents faith. The edelweiss symbolizes purity and the snowdrop purity. The dove transforms into the Holy Spirit as the protagonist experiences bliss, emphasizing our true potential, encouraging faith and hope for the next cycle.

Cats Have Nine Lives
NoorAl Kaabi
"This artwork captures the visceral experience of pain and delirium in the intensive care unit (ICU). A woman lies in her hospital bed, her skin flushed red, symbolizing agony the body’s distress under illness and medical intervention. Her hair transforms into a dense and tangled jungle — her mind is both sanctuary and a nightmare. Through this piece, I explore the delicate balance between alleviating suffering and the cognitive consequences of sedation. The question “What do I do for pain?” is not only personal but deeply ethical. Physicians are tasked with understanding the evolving landscape of pain management. Recent evidence favors multimodal pain relief strategies over excessive sedation to reduce ICU delirium and cognitive impairment. The historical reliance on benzodiazepines is waning, while non-pharmacologic interventions such as early mobility gain favour. This piece invites the viewer to step into this complex intersection of medicine, ethics, and human vulnerability—where every decision carries consequences, and relief is often inseparable from consequences.
Brittney Teuber
Art drawing using micro pigment ink, and alcohol markers
We as people discover pain in various magnitudes throughout our lives. Like cats, pain will come and go as it pleases, will linger, and at times become overbearing as it nuzzles in the comfort of our hearts, minds, and space. Like cats, we fit the idiom of having nine lives; that through all our pain, we are resilient. No matter what vices we consume to numb or void the pain, it stays with us. The cats represent our past and present pain, as they wade our inner peace we strive for.

Sortir de l'ombre
NoorAl Kaabi
"This artwork captures the visceral experience of pain and delirium in the intensive care unit (ICU). A woman lies in her hospital bed, her skin flushed red, symbolizing agony the body’s distress under illness and medical intervention. Her hair transforms into a dense and tangled jungle — her mind is both sanctuary and a nightmare. Through this piece, I explore the delicate balance between alleviating suffering and the cognitive consequences of sedation. The question “What do I do for pain?” is not only personal but deeply ethical. Physicians are tasked with understanding the evolving landscape of pain management. Recent evidence favors multimodal pain relief strategies over excessive sedation to reduce ICU delirium and cognitive impairment. The historical reliance on benzodiazepines is waning, while non-pharmacologic interventions such as early mobility gain favour. This piece invites the viewer to step into this complex intersection of medicine, ethics, and human vulnerability—where every decision carries consequences, and relief is often inseparable from consequences.
Carole Thivierge
Art numérique abstrait fait avec ArtRage
Ma famille que je ne vois plus à cause de douleurs chroniques très sévères.

Transcendence
NoorAl Kaabi
"This artwork captures the visceral experience of pain and delirium in the intensive care unit (ICU). A woman lies in her hospital bed, her skin flushed red, symbolizing agony the body’s distress under illness and medical intervention. Her hair transforms into a dense and tangled jungle — her mind is both sanctuary and a nightmare. Through this piece, I explore the delicate balance between alleviating suffering and the cognitive consequences of sedation. The question “What do I do for pain?” is not only personal but deeply ethical. Physicians are tasked with understanding the evolving landscape of pain management. Recent evidence favors multimodal pain relief strategies over excessive sedation to reduce ICU delirium and cognitive impairment. The historical reliance on benzodiazepines is waning, while non-pharmacologic interventions such as early mobility gain favour. This piece invites the viewer to step into this complex intersection of medicine, ethics, and human vulnerability—where every decision carries consequences, and relief is often inseparable from consequences.
Reynold Thomas
Photograph
This image reflects pain as an internal, shifting experience—felt deeply, yet difficult to articulate. The blurred motion suggests the way pain disrupts clarity, distorts time, and unsettles one’s sense of self. The hand moving across the face evokes both protection and overwhelm, a gesture of coping when words fall short. Pain here is not fixed or visible in a single moment; it trembles, lingers, and resurfaces unpredictably. The obscured features speak to isolation and misrecognition, how pain is often unseen or misunderstood by others. Together, the softness and tension embody the vulnerability, resilience, and quiet endurance that define how we feel pain.

Sifting through Sunrise
NoorAl Kaabi
"This artwork captures the visceral experience of pain and delirium in the intensive care unit (ICU). A woman lies in her hospital bed, her skin flushed red, symbolizing agony the body’s distress under illness and medical intervention. Her hair transforms into a dense and tangled jungle — her mind is both sanctuary and a nightmare. Through this piece, I explore the delicate balance between alleviating suffering and the cognitive consequences of sedation. The question “What do I do for pain?” is not only personal but deeply ethical. Physicians are tasked with understanding the evolving landscape of pain management. Recent evidence favors multimodal pain relief strategies over excessive sedation to reduce ICU delirium and cognitive impairment. The historical reliance on benzodiazepines is waning, while non-pharmacologic interventions such as early mobility gain favour. This piece invites the viewer to step into this complex intersection of medicine, ethics, and human vulnerability—where every decision carries consequences, and relief is often inseparable from consequences.
Bonnie Thompson
Painting on cotton paper with watercolor, watercolor ink with a touch of salt.
How we feel pain: In the morning, I sift through the overactive nerve endings, each one is lit up, ready for attention, and ready to go. It can be sensory overload. It feels like wires inside my head are sparking and shorting out.

When Everyone Has Left the Funeral
NoorAl Kaabi
"This artwork captures the visceral experience of pain and delirium in the intensive care unit (ICU). A woman lies in her hospital bed, her skin flushed red, symbolizing agony the body’s distress under illness and medical intervention. Her hair transforms into a dense and tangled jungle — her mind is both sanctuary and a nightmare. Through this piece, I explore the delicate balance between alleviating suffering and the cognitive consequences of sedation. The question “What do I do for pain?” is not only personal but deeply ethical. Physicians are tasked with understanding the evolving landscape of pain management. Recent evidence favors multimodal pain relief strategies over excessive sedation to reduce ICU delirium and cognitive impairment. The historical reliance on benzodiazepines is waning, while non-pharmacologic interventions such as early mobility gain favour. This piece invites the viewer to step into this complex intersection of medicine, ethics, and human vulnerability—where every decision carries consequences, and relief is often inseparable from consequences.
Roshanak Vesali
Digital Photography; Captured on iPhone XS Max.
Captured shortly after the funeral, this photograph reflects how pain is felt when rituals conclude, voices fade, and absence remains present through memory and reflection. In the quiet courtyard of a family home, a man sits beneath a tree, posture lowered, looking down at his shadow extending forward. The space is empty, yet shaped by years of shared presence that now exist only in memory. Sometimes pain is not meant to be solved or overcome, but experienced, carried, and quietly lived with over time.
Photograph taken in October 2020.

Circuit Overload
NoorAl Kaabi
"This artwork captures the visceral experience of pain and delirium in the intensive care unit (ICU). A woman lies in her hospital bed, her skin flushed red, symbolizing agony the body’s distress under illness and medical intervention. Her hair transforms into a dense and tangled jungle — her mind is both sanctuary and a nightmare. Through this piece, I explore the delicate balance between alleviating suffering and the cognitive consequences of sedation. The question “What do I do for pain?” is not only personal but deeply ethical. Physicians are tasked with understanding the evolving landscape of pain management. Recent evidence favors multimodal pain relief strategies over excessive sedation to reduce ICU delirium and cognitive impairment. The historical reliance on benzodiazepines is waning, while non-pharmacologic interventions such as early mobility gain favour. This piece invites the viewer to step into this complex intersection of medicine, ethics, and human vulnerability—where every decision carries consequences, and relief is often inseparable from consequences.
Sandra Woods
Watercolour painting on cotton-paper, using gemstone/mineral pigments; Garnet, Rhodonite, and Cobalt Turquoise for contrast.
How We Feel Pain is through the brain!
In chronic pain, pain signals often continue long after a pain-triggering event has ended; with malfunctions in receiving, interpreting, or responding to pain signals.
The chronic pain brain is like a home's electrical panel in 'Circuit Overload' - flickering lights, frequently tripped circuit breakers, overheating outlets, burning smells, buzzing sounds, and more.
Imagine the brain as an electrical panel overwhelmed by pain; neurotransmitters' signals flicker, dim, overheat, or trip like circuit breakers, leaving the person feeling that different functions of their brain have been disconnected like puzzle pieces pulled apart.

Première
Blooms on Neural Threads
NoorAl Kaabi
"This artwork captures the visceral experience of pain and delirium in the intensive care unit (ICU). A woman lies in her hospital bed, her skin flushed red, symbolizing agony the body’s distress under illness and medical intervention. Her hair transforms into a dense and tangled jungle — her mind is both sanctuary and a nightmare. Through this piece, I explore the delicate balance between alleviating suffering and the cognitive consequences of sedation. The question “What do I do for pain?” is not only personal but deeply ethical. Physicians are tasked with understanding the evolving landscape of pain management. Recent evidence favors multimodal pain relief strategies over excessive sedation to reduce ICU delirium and cognitive impairment. The historical reliance on benzodiazepines is waning, while non-pharmacologic interventions such as early mobility gain favour. This piece invites the viewer to step into this complex intersection of medicine, ethics, and human vulnerability—where every decision carries consequences, and relief is often inseparable from consequences.
Monika Kataria
Acrylics in an illustrative style on a 300 GSM A4 sized sheet.
This artwork represents the shared journey of people living with chronic pain and the caregivers, researchers, and clinicians who support them. The vibrant blooming flowers symbolize resilience and growth, while the small human figures seated within the petals capture deeply human moments of introspection and vulnerability experienced by people living with pain. The delicate neuron threads interwoven throughout highlight the vital role of researchers and medical professionals, whose efforts provide understanding, connection, and hope to those navigating pain. These threads nurture the blooms, reflecting the collective compassion and empathy that drives healing and progress. This piece celebrates the strength and humanity of those impacted by pain and the enduring power of unity.

Deuxième
Pain, Delirium, and the Jungle Within
NoorAl Kaabi
"This artwork captures the visceral experience of pain and delirium in the intensive care unit (ICU). A woman lies in her hospital bed, her skin flushed red, symbolizing agony the body’s distress under illness and medical intervention. Her hair transforms into a dense and tangled jungle — her mind is both sanctuary and a nightmare. Through this piece, I explore the delicate balance between alleviating suffering and the cognitive consequences of sedation. The question “What do I do for pain?” is not only personal but deeply ethical. Physicians are tasked with understanding the evolving landscape of pain management. Recent evidence favors multimodal pain relief strategies over excessive sedation to reduce ICU delirium and cognitive impairment. The historical reliance on benzodiazepines is waning, while non-pharmacologic interventions such as early mobility gain favour. This piece invites the viewer to step into this complex intersection of medicine, ethics, and human vulnerability—where every decision carries consequences, and relief is often inseparable from consequences.
Noor Al Kaabi
Drawn in Procreate with scanned water color textures, and painting.
This artwork captures the visceral experience of pain and delirium in the intensive care unit (ICU). A woman lies in her hospital bed, her skin flushed red, symbolizing agony the body’s distress under illness and medical intervention. Her hair transforms into a dense and tangled jungle — her mind is both sanctuary and a nightmare.
Through this piece, I explore the delicate balance between alleviating suffering and the cognitive consequences of sedation. The question “What do I do for pain?” is not only personal but deeply ethical. Physicians are tasked with understanding the evolving landscape of pain management. Recent evidence favors multimodal pain relief strategies over excessive sedation to reduce ICU delirium and cognitive impairment. The historical reliance on benzodiazepines is waning, while non-pharmacologic interventions such as early mobility gain favour.
This piece invites the viewer to step into this complex intersection of medicine, ethics, and human vulnerability—where every decision carries consequences, and relief is often inseparable from consequences.

Troisième
Shackles of White Ribbon
NoorAl Kaabi
"This artwork captures the visceral experience of pain and delirium in the intensive care unit (ICU). A woman lies in her hospital bed, her skin flushed red, symbolizing agony the body’s distress under illness and medical intervention. Her hair transforms into a dense and tangled jungle — her mind is both sanctuary and a nightmare. Through this piece, I explore the delicate balance between alleviating suffering and the cognitive consequences of sedation. The question “What do I do for pain?” is not only personal but deeply ethical. Physicians are tasked with understanding the evolving landscape of pain management. Recent evidence favors multimodal pain relief strategies over excessive sedation to reduce ICU delirium and cognitive impairment. The historical reliance on benzodiazepines is waning, while non-pharmacologic interventions such as early mobility gain favour. This piece invites the viewer to step into this complex intersection of medicine, ethics, and human vulnerability—where every decision carries consequences, and relief is often inseparable from consequences.
Rimsha Malik
Painting using smooth gradients and soft edges.
In "Shackles of White Ribbon", pain is both a constraint and a catalyst for resilience. The white ribbons—tight and restrictive—reflect the coping mechanisms and facades we adopt to contain pain, even when they confine our freedom and authenticity. Yet, within this restriction, there’s a quiet strength, as if these "shackles" keep the pieces from unraveling entirely.
The hand partially covering the face represents the instinct to shield oneself, to conceal the raw vulnerability that pain exposes. However, the piercing gaze challenges this, suggesting a confrontation with pain rather than retreat. The swirling background embodies the inner turmoil—waves of anguish and resilience intermingling—showing that pain is not a static experience but an ever-shifting force.
Through this self-portrait, pain is endured, hidden, battled, and ultimately embraced as part of oneself. The painting answers: what do I do for pain? I live with it, I confront it, and I transform it into art.

Walking on Ice
NoorAl Kaabi
"This artwork captures the visceral experience of pain and delirium in the intensive care unit (ICU). A woman lies in her hospital bed, her skin flushed red, symbolizing agony the body’s distress under illness and medical intervention. Her hair transforms into a dense and tangled jungle — her mind is both sanctuary and a nightmare. Through this piece, I explore the delicate balance between alleviating suffering and the cognitive consequences of sedation. The question “What do I do for pain?” is not only personal but deeply ethical. Physicians are tasked with understanding the evolving landscape of pain management. Recent evidence favors multimodal pain relief strategies over excessive sedation to reduce ICU delirium and cognitive impairment. The historical reliance on benzodiazepines is waning, while non-pharmacologic interventions such as early mobility gain favour. This piece invites the viewer to step into this complex intersection of medicine, ethics, and human vulnerability—where every decision carries consequences, and relief is often inseparable from consequences.
Emily Ames
Descriptive prompts via ChatGPT.
Living with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome requires strength, poise, and flexibility. This piece reflects the experience of hypermobility—where every step feels as precarious as walking on ice. Though extreme flexibility may appear graceful, it masks the reality of chronic pain and instability, creating a disconnect between how I feel and how I’m perceived.
What I do for pain remains largely invisible. Behind this image is the effort no one sees—pain management, rehabilitation, pacing, and the constant organizing of care. Every movement is calculated, every day shaped by the need to balance activity and rest. Yet, to the outside world, only the illusion of ease remains. This image captures that paradox—the beauty that hides the struggle, the unseen work behind each moment of apparent grace.

Observation is Key
NoorAl Kaabi
"This artwork captures the visceral experience of pain and delirium in the intensive care unit (ICU). A woman lies in her hospital bed, her skin flushed red, symbolizing agony the body’s distress under illness and medical intervention. Her hair transforms into a dense and tangled jungle — her mind is both sanctuary and a nightmare. Through this piece, I explore the delicate balance between alleviating suffering and the cognitive consequences of sedation. The question “What do I do for pain?” is not only personal but deeply ethical. Physicians are tasked with understanding the evolving landscape of pain management. Recent evidence favors multimodal pain relief strategies over excessive sedation to reduce ICU delirium and cognitive impairment. The historical reliance on benzodiazepines is waning, while non-pharmacologic interventions such as early mobility gain favour. This piece invites the viewer to step into this complex intersection of medicine, ethics, and human vulnerability—where every decision carries consequences, and relief is often inseparable from consequences.
Caroline Archambault
Shot with the following settings on a Nikon D80, AF-S DX VR Zoom-Nikkor 16-85mm ƒ3.5-5.
Observing the world provides a sense of serenity and connection with my environment. Capturing the details of these surroundings allows me to integrate the ordinary and the extraordinary, generating new awareness. Being introspective engenders further layers of perception and appreciation.
These are keys not only to my creativity but also to communicating and fostering a deeper understanding – for others and myself – of my lived experience with persistent pain.

The Beauty Within
NoorAl Kaabi
"This artwork captures the visceral experience of pain and delirium in the intensive care unit (ICU). A woman lies in her hospital bed, her skin flushed red, symbolizing agony the body’s distress under illness and medical intervention. Her hair transforms into a dense and tangled jungle — her mind is both sanctuary and a nightmare. Through this piece, I explore the delicate balance between alleviating suffering and the cognitive consequences of sedation. The question “What do I do for pain?” is not only personal but deeply ethical. Physicians are tasked with understanding the evolving landscape of pain management. Recent evidence favors multimodal pain relief strategies over excessive sedation to reduce ICU delirium and cognitive impairment. The historical reliance on benzodiazepines is waning, while non-pharmacologic interventions such as early mobility gain favour. This piece invites the viewer to step into this complex intersection of medicine, ethics, and human vulnerability—where every decision carries consequences, and relief is often inseparable from consequences.
Dana Batho
Oil paint on cradled birch panel.
A succulent pomegranate sliced open shows the beauty that is hidden within even everyday objects, and ourselves. No matter how many times it is sliced into, there is beauty to be found. Beauty is all around us, and we choose what we give our attention to. Changing our viewpoint can reveal beautiful hidden inner worlds.

Towards the Light
NoorAl Kaabi
"This artwork captures the visceral experience of pain and delirium in the intensive care unit (ICU). A woman lies in her hospital bed, her skin flushed red, symbolizing agony the body’s distress under illness and medical intervention. Her hair transforms into a dense and tangled jungle — her mind is both sanctuary and a nightmare. Through this piece, I explore the delicate balance between alleviating suffering and the cognitive consequences of sedation. The question “What do I do for pain?” is not only personal but deeply ethical. Physicians are tasked with understanding the evolving landscape of pain management. Recent evidence favors multimodal pain relief strategies over excessive sedation to reduce ICU delirium and cognitive impairment. The historical reliance on benzodiazepines is waning, while non-pharmacologic interventions such as early mobility gain favour. This piece invites the viewer to step into this complex intersection of medicine, ethics, and human vulnerability—where every decision carries consequences, and relief is often inseparable from consequences.
Yola Boulos
Shot on an Android phone
It all depends on the viewers's perspective and life experiences. I see it both as the person walking towards the light from within a dark space, or from the perspective of the viewer you see others that are far ahead of you at the end of the tunnel but you still haven't traversed it yet.

Between Comfort - Or
NoorAl Kaabi
"This artwork captures the visceral experience of pain and delirium in the intensive care unit (ICU). A woman lies in her hospital bed, her skin flushed red, symbolizing agony the body’s distress under illness and medical intervention. Her hair transforms into a dense and tangled jungle — her mind is both sanctuary and a nightmare. Through this piece, I explore the delicate balance between alleviating suffering and the cognitive consequences of sedation. The question “What do I do for pain?” is not only personal but deeply ethical. Physicians are tasked with understanding the evolving landscape of pain management. Recent evidence favors multimodal pain relief strategies over excessive sedation to reduce ICU delirium and cognitive impairment. The historical reliance on benzodiazepines is waning, while non-pharmacologic interventions such as early mobility gain favour. This piece invites the viewer to step into this complex intersection of medicine, ethics, and human vulnerability—where every decision carries consequences, and relief is often inseparable from consequences.
Elizabeth Cardno
Read the full poem here.
Typed poetry.
Poem with subtle reference to end of life and living with chronic pain. Read the full poem here.

Hidden Pain
NoorAl Kaabi
"This artwork captures the visceral experience of pain and delirium in the intensive care unit (ICU). A woman lies in her hospital bed, her skin flushed red, symbolizing agony the body’s distress under illness and medical intervention. Her hair transforms into a dense and tangled jungle — her mind is both sanctuary and a nightmare. Through this piece, I explore the delicate balance between alleviating suffering and the cognitive consequences of sedation. The question “What do I do for pain?” is not only personal but deeply ethical. Physicians are tasked with understanding the evolving landscape of pain management. Recent evidence favors multimodal pain relief strategies over excessive sedation to reduce ICU delirium and cognitive impairment. The historical reliance on benzodiazepines is waning, while non-pharmacologic interventions such as early mobility gain favour. This piece invites the viewer to step into this complex intersection of medicine, ethics, and human vulnerability—where every decision carries consequences, and relief is often inseparable from consequences.
Stephanie Clark
A collage of photographs, photocopied magazines, and, ink pens.
Hidden Pain is one part of a 3-part collage series I created to explore complex feelings around living with chronic pain and my lived experience with medical professionals. Using my own photographs printed in colour and black and white, the rocky terrain shows the general environment of dealing with pain as hard to navigate. Using the combination of imaged in colour and black and white is meant to illustrate what we can see with pain (colour) and what is hidden (black and white). The very nature of collage allows for the layering of images and to decide how much is shown and leaves the viewer wondering what is layered underneath. The words selected show the dichotomy of what we are led to believe about medicine and the expectation of help vs. my personal experience of finding no help and having my pain dismissed.

Never Eating Sushi From a Vending Machine
NoorAl Kaabi
"This artwork captures the visceral experience of pain and delirium in the intensive care unit (ICU). A woman lies in her hospital bed, her skin flushed red, symbolizing agony the body’s distress under illness and medical intervention. Her hair transforms into a dense and tangled jungle — her mind is both sanctuary and a nightmare. Through this piece, I explore the delicate balance between alleviating suffering and the cognitive consequences of sedation. The question “What do I do for pain?” is not only personal but deeply ethical. Physicians are tasked with understanding the evolving landscape of pain management. Recent evidence favors multimodal pain relief strategies over excessive sedation to reduce ICU delirium and cognitive impairment. The historical reliance on benzodiazepines is waning, while non-pharmacologic interventions such as early mobility gain favour. This piece invites the viewer to step into this complex intersection of medicine, ethics, and human vulnerability—where every decision carries consequences, and relief is often inseparable from consequences.
Rebecca Clifford
Read full poem here.
Pain comes to us at different times, in different ways, and all of us handle it differently. Arthritis has limited what I can manage in my life; but I recall other pains, such as searing cramps during my monthly cycles accompanied by blinding migraines; and pains incurred by bad choices - a pair of sexy heels that threw my back out for three months, or vending machine food. Often you want to cry; sometimes you just have to laugh. Me, I use words to express both pain and pleasure.

Prends ton temps
NoorAl Kaabi
"This artwork captures the visceral experience of pain and delirium in the intensive care unit (ICU). A woman lies in her hospital bed, her skin flushed red, symbolizing agony the body’s distress under illness and medical intervention. Her hair transforms into a dense and tangled jungle — her mind is both sanctuary and a nightmare. Through this piece, I explore the delicate balance between alleviating suffering and the cognitive consequences of sedation. The question “What do I do for pain?” is not only personal but deeply ethical. Physicians are tasked with understanding the evolving landscape of pain management. Recent evidence favors multimodal pain relief strategies over excessive sedation to reduce ICU delirium and cognitive impairment. The historical reliance on benzodiazepines is waning, while non-pharmacologic interventions such as early mobility gain favour. This piece invites the viewer to step into this complex intersection of medicine, ethics, and human vulnerability—where every decision carries consequences, and relief is often inseparable from consequences.
Gabrielle Desjardins
Aquarelle et stylo noir sur papier aquarelle 16x11 pouce
La douleur s’apprivoise lentement et il faut lui donner de l’amour comme à une plante. Un jour, on peut voir la floraison de nos efforts. Mais attention, trop lui donner peut être tout aussi néfaste que de ne pas lui en donner suffisamment. Trouver le juste milieu est le défi de toute une vie.

Silent No More - Silence Rompu
NoorAl Kaabi
"This artwork captures the visceral experience of pain and delirium in the intensive care unit (ICU). A woman lies in her hospital bed, her skin flushed red, symbolizing agony the body’s distress under illness and medical intervention. Her hair transforms into a dense and tangled jungle — her mind is both sanctuary and a nightmare. Through this piece, I explore the delicate balance between alleviating suffering and the cognitive consequences of sedation. The question “What do I do for pain?” is not only personal but deeply ethical. Physicians are tasked with understanding the evolving landscape of pain management. Recent evidence favors multimodal pain relief strategies over excessive sedation to reduce ICU delirium and cognitive impairment. The historical reliance on benzodiazepines is waning, while non-pharmacologic interventions such as early mobility gain favour. This piece invites the viewer to step into this complex intersection of medicine, ethics, and human vulnerability—where every decision carries consequences, and relief is often inseparable from consequences.
Amy Doucet
Painted using water colors and lined with markers.
My journey and voice in pain research - Mon expérience enfin entendue

Garden of Pain
NoorAl Kaabi
"This artwork captures the visceral experience of pain and delirium in the intensive care unit (ICU). A woman lies in her hospital bed, her skin flushed red, symbolizing agony the body’s distress under illness and medical intervention. Her hair transforms into a dense and tangled jungle — her mind is both sanctuary and a nightmare. Through this piece, I explore the delicate balance between alleviating suffering and the cognitive consequences of sedation. The question “What do I do for pain?” is not only personal but deeply ethical. Physicians are tasked with understanding the evolving landscape of pain management. Recent evidence favors multimodal pain relief strategies over excessive sedation to reduce ICU delirium and cognitive impairment. The historical reliance on benzodiazepines is waning, while non-pharmacologic interventions such as early mobility gain favour. This piece invites the viewer to step into this complex intersection of medicine, ethics, and human vulnerability—where every decision carries consequences, and relief is often inseparable from consequences.
Melody Dover
Painted using gouache and water colour paints.
Among the thorns hope may bloom. As someone living with Chronic Pain for almost 8 years, the incessant tangle of fighting, managing and coping with pain that invades all facets of my life, but I lean into hope that support from my health professionals, love from family and friends can help me to cope with the hardest days.

Lookin’ Good
NoorAl Kaabi
"This artwork captures the visceral experience of pain and delirium in the intensive care unit (ICU). A woman lies in her hospital bed, her skin flushed red, symbolizing agony the body’s distress under illness and medical intervention. Her hair transforms into a dense and tangled jungle — her mind is both sanctuary and a nightmare. Through this piece, I explore the delicate balance between alleviating suffering and the cognitive consequences of sedation. The question “What do I do for pain?” is not only personal but deeply ethical. Physicians are tasked with understanding the evolving landscape of pain management. Recent evidence favors multimodal pain relief strategies over excessive sedation to reduce ICU delirium and cognitive impairment. The historical reliance on benzodiazepines is waning, while non-pharmacologic interventions such as early mobility gain favour. This piece invites the viewer to step into this complex intersection of medicine, ethics, and human vulnerability—where every decision carries consequences, and relief is often inseparable from consequences.
Levi Du
Drawn digitally, with feeling.
Those moments when you can see a glimpse of yourself in a good light despite the pain. The space between believing that you deserve to take care of yourself… the evidence that its ok to be you.

The Path to Healing
NoorAl Kaabi
"This artwork captures the visceral experience of pain and delirium in the intensive care unit (ICU). A woman lies in her hospital bed, her skin flushed red, symbolizing agony the body’s distress under illness and medical intervention. Her hair transforms into a dense and tangled jungle — her mind is both sanctuary and a nightmare. Through this piece, I explore the delicate balance between alleviating suffering and the cognitive consequences of sedation. The question “What do I do for pain?” is not only personal but deeply ethical. Physicians are tasked with understanding the evolving landscape of pain management. Recent evidence favors multimodal pain relief strategies over excessive sedation to reduce ICU delirium and cognitive impairment. The historical reliance on benzodiazepines is waning, while non-pharmacologic interventions such as early mobility gain favour. This piece invites the viewer to step into this complex intersection of medicine, ethics, and human vulnerability—where every decision carries consequences, and relief is often inseparable from consequences.
Ezinne Ekediegwu
Read full short story here.
Structured short story written to highlighting personal growth and recovery.
A poignant narrative that delves into the multifaceted journey of managing and overcoming pain through physiotherapy. The story begins with the protagonist stepping into a clinic, a sanctuary of hope and healing, seeking relief from their persistent pain. This piece vividly captures the physical and emotional challenges faced by the patient, offering a comprehensive exploration of the theme "What do I do for pain?"
Through detailed descriptions of the physiotherapy sessions, the narrative illustrates the various techniques employed to address pain, from gentle massages to intense joint mobilizations. Each session is a testament to the patient's resilience and determination as they push through discomfort and frustration to find solace and recovery.

When Pain Speaks, What Can I Do?
NoorAl Kaabi
"This artwork captures the visceral experience of pain and delirium in the intensive care unit (ICU). A woman lies in her hospital bed, her skin flushed red, symbolizing agony the body’s distress under illness and medical intervention. Her hair transforms into a dense and tangled jungle — her mind is both sanctuary and a nightmare. Through this piece, I explore the delicate balance between alleviating suffering and the cognitive consequences of sedation. The question “What do I do for pain?” is not only personal but deeply ethical. Physicians are tasked with understanding the evolving landscape of pain management. Recent evidence favors multimodal pain relief strategies over excessive sedation to reduce ICU delirium and cognitive impairment. The historical reliance on benzodiazepines is waning, while non-pharmacologic interventions such as early mobility gain favour. This piece invites the viewer to step into this complex intersection of medicine, ethics, and human vulnerability—where every decision carries consequences, and relief is often inseparable from consequences.
Nataly Espinoza Suarez
To craft this poem, I played with rhyme, Shaping each thought in flowing time. Both in French and English too, I searched for words both old and new. A dictionary helped me find, The perfect sounds, well-aligned.
Read the full poem here.(https://static.wixstatic.com/media/21223c_f36dde1980444af59de9e0d852dcd4e6~mv2.png)
This poem explores the deep and persistent nature of pain, both personal and collective. It reflects on how pain exists within us—intimate, overwhelming, and often unheard. The poem emphasizes the power of creativity and empathy in addressing pain, not just for oneself but for others who endure it in silence. It conveys a message of resilience, hope, and the importance of acknowledging and understanding pain to inspire change and healing in the world.

Convergence and Divergence
NoorAl Kaabi
"This artwork captures the visceral experience of pain and delirium in the intensive care unit (ICU). A woman lies in her hospital bed, her skin flushed red, symbolizing agony the body’s distress under illness and medical intervention. Her hair transforms into a dense and tangled jungle — her mind is both sanctuary and a nightmare. Through this piece, I explore the delicate balance between alleviating suffering and the cognitive consequences of sedation. The question “What do I do for pain?” is not only personal but deeply ethical. Physicians are tasked with understanding the evolving landscape of pain management. Recent evidence favors multimodal pain relief strategies over excessive sedation to reduce ICU delirium and cognitive impairment. The historical reliance on benzodiazepines is waning, while non-pharmacologic interventions such as early mobility gain favour. This piece invites the viewer to step into this complex intersection of medicine, ethics, and human vulnerability—where every decision carries consequences, and relief is often inseparable from consequences.
Churmy Fan
Drawn digitally. using Procreate.
This design was inspired by the theme of converging and diverging mechanisms in pain pathways. The motif of two schools of fish swimming through a stream, swirling together then apart, illustrates the idea that pain mechanisms are more complex than black and white, and rarely stay a straight course. At various levels, mechanisms can converge, diverge, and interact with each other, like these schools of fish. This illustration highlights the beauty and complexity of cellular and molecular pathways.

Sewn in Strength
NoorAl Kaabi
"This artwork captures the visceral experience of pain and delirium in the intensive care unit (ICU). A woman lies in her hospital bed, her skin flushed red, symbolizing agony the body’s distress under illness and medical intervention. Her hair transforms into a dense and tangled jungle — her mind is both sanctuary and a nightmare. Through this piece, I explore the delicate balance between alleviating suffering and the cognitive consequences of sedation. The question “What do I do for pain?” is not only personal but deeply ethical. Physicians are tasked with understanding the evolving landscape of pain management. Recent evidence favors multimodal pain relief strategies over excessive sedation to reduce ICU delirium and cognitive impairment. The historical reliance on benzodiazepines is waning, while non-pharmacologic interventions such as early mobility gain favour. This piece invites the viewer to step into this complex intersection of medicine, ethics, and human vulnerability—where every decision carries consequences, and relief is often inseparable from consequences.
Caitlin Fast
Embroidery technique including Running, Chain, Wheel, and Satin Stitches, French Knots and Rosebuds.
Embroidered Female Endo Reproductive System Anatomy

Shine in the Darkness
NoorAl Kaabi
"This artwork captures the visceral experience of pain and delirium in the intensive care unit (ICU). A woman lies in her hospital bed, her skin flushed red, symbolizing agony the body’s distress under illness and medical intervention. Her hair transforms into a dense and tangled jungle — her mind is both sanctuary and a nightmare. Through this piece, I explore the delicate balance between alleviating suffering and the cognitive consequences of sedation. The question “What do I do for pain?” is not only personal but deeply ethical. Physicians are tasked with understanding the evolving landscape of pain management. Recent evidence favors multimodal pain relief strategies over excessive sedation to reduce ICU delirium and cognitive impairment. The historical reliance on benzodiazepines is waning, while non-pharmacologic interventions such as early mobility gain favour. This piece invites the viewer to step into this complex intersection of medicine, ethics, and human vulnerability—where every decision carries consequences, and relief is often inseparable from consequences.
Lauren Ferreira
Mixed media using pencil, coloured pencils, markers, fountain pen, watercolour pen, and white charcoal on 7" x 10" Canson XL mixed media paper, cropped with a box cutter and ruler.
"Shine in the Darkness" depicts a heart surrounded by darkness, with arteries morphing into candles. One of the candles has burnt out – as the others eventually will, too – but, for now, the remaining ones shine; perhaps not as brightly as they could've shone had life been different, but as brightly as they can under the circumstances.

Sketching in the Garden
NoorAl Kaabi
"This artwork captures the visceral experience of pain and delirium in the intensive care unit (ICU). A woman lies in her hospital bed, her skin flushed red, symbolizing agony the body’s distress under illness and medical intervention. Her hair transforms into a dense and tangled jungle — her mind is both sanctuary and a nightmare. Through this piece, I explore the delicate balance between alleviating suffering and the cognitive consequences of sedation. The question “What do I do for pain?” is not only personal but deeply ethical. Physicians are tasked with understanding the evolving landscape of pain management. Recent evidence favors multimodal pain relief strategies over excessive sedation to reduce ICU delirium and cognitive impairment. The historical reliance on benzodiazepines is waning, while non-pharmacologic interventions such as early mobility gain favour. This piece invites the viewer to step into this complex intersection of medicine, ethics, and human vulnerability—where every decision carries consequences, and relief is often inseparable from consequences.
Lisa Kimberly Glickman
Mixed media using acrylic paint, paint markers, crystals, embroidery, and beadwork on raw canvas stretched on a deep edge frame
This self-portrait captures me sketching in the garden—my sanctuary—surrounded by nature on a warm, sunny day. I’m barefoot, as I love to be, fully immersed in the creative process. When my brachial neuritis flares, even holding a drawing tool can become impossible. Yet, when I can, I adapt—sometimes drawing with my non-dominant hand—because creating is essential to me. Art is my ultimate refuge from pain; as I lose myself in color, composition, and expression, the act of making overrides the relentless signals of neuropathy and neuralgia. In those moments, creativity becomes not just an escape, but a way to reclaim a sense of control and relief.

Pain Chronification: A Psychoeducational Song Bridging Science, Emotion, and Recovery
NoorAl Kaabi
"This artwork captures the visceral experience of pain and delirium in the intensive care unit (ICU). A woman lies in her hospital bed, her skin flushed red, symbolizing agony the body’s distress under illness and medical intervention. Her hair transforms into a dense and tangled jungle — her mind is both sanctuary and a nightmare. Through this piece, I explore the delicate balance between alleviating suffering and the cognitive consequences of sedation. The question “What do I do for pain?” is not only personal but deeply ethical. Physicians are tasked with understanding the evolving landscape of pain management. Recent evidence favors multimodal pain relief strategies over excessive sedation to reduce ICU delirium and cognitive impairment. The historical reliance on benzodiazepines is waning, while non-pharmacologic interventions such as early mobility gain favour. This piece invites the viewer to step into this complex intersection of medicine, ethics, and human vulnerability—where every decision carries consequences, and relief is often inseparable from consequences.
Pavel Goldstein
This project uses an innovative psychoeducational song to simplify chronic pain mechanisms, specifically pain chronification, into accessible lyrics.
Based on the music of Californication by the Red Hot Chili Peppers, conveys key insights about chronic pain, its psychological and neurological underpinnings, and its societal impact. The song’s narrative explores themes such as fear, catastrophization, and reliance on biomedical treatments while emphasizing self-empowerment, emotional regulation, and the role of neuroplasticity in recovery. The familiar melody ensures recognition and emotional connection, while the new lyrics deliver an educational and relatable message.
This song was written as a personal reflection following a car accident, which catalyzed an understanding of pain mechanisms and the mindset required for recovery. It combines a scientific perspective with a hopeful message, demonstrating how personal experience can inspire others. The performance is brought to life by a young band of university students living in dormitories, with members from diverse ethnic backgrounds, including Russia, Ukraine, and Mongolia.

Born Too Soon
NoorAl Kaabi
"This artwork captures the visceral experience of pain and delirium in the intensive care unit (ICU). A woman lies in her hospital bed, her skin flushed red, symbolizing agony the body’s distress under illness and medical intervention. Her hair transforms into a dense and tangled jungle — her mind is both sanctuary and a nightmare. Through this piece, I explore the delicate balance between alleviating suffering and the cognitive consequences of sedation. The question “What do I do for pain?” is not only personal but deeply ethical. Physicians are tasked with understanding the evolving landscape of pain management. Recent evidence favors multimodal pain relief strategies over excessive sedation to reduce ICU delirium and cognitive impairment. The historical reliance on benzodiazepines is waning, while non-pharmacologic interventions such as early mobility gain favour. This piece invites the viewer to step into this complex intersection of medicine, ethics, and human vulnerability—where every decision carries consequences, and relief is often inseparable from consequences.
Haleh Hashemi
Created with water colours and fine liner details.
Approximately 1 in 12 Canadian children are born prematurely, often requiring extended stays in Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs). These early beginnings can have profound impacts on their physical, cognitive, and emotional development. Very and extremely preterm infants endure more painful procedures and longer hospital stays compared to full-term babies. In 2023, the World Health Organization (WHO) emphasized the importance of at least 8 hours of daily skin-to-skin contact for preterm infants, highlighting benefits such as reduced neonatal mortality, enhanced brain development, and improved parental mental health. However, the fragility of very preterm infants and their reliance on medical devices like ventilators and feeding tubes create significant barriers to providing this essential care. These challenges add to parental stress and complicate distress regulation for infants. This artwork reflects the delicate balance of hope and struggle in caring for preterm infants, honouring their resilience and the strength of their families.

Through the Ripples We Heal
NoorAl Kaabi
"This artwork captures the visceral experience of pain and delirium in the intensive care unit (ICU). A woman lies in her hospital bed, her skin flushed red, symbolizing agony the body’s distress under illness and medical intervention. Her hair transforms into a dense and tangled jungle — her mind is both sanctuary and a nightmare. Through this piece, I explore the delicate balance between alleviating suffering and the cognitive consequences of sedation. The question “What do I do for pain?” is not only personal but deeply ethical. Physicians are tasked with understanding the evolving landscape of pain management. Recent evidence favors multimodal pain relief strategies over excessive sedation to reduce ICU delirium and cognitive impairment. The historical reliance on benzodiazepines is waning, while non-pharmacologic interventions such as early mobility gain favour. This piece invites the viewer to step into this complex intersection of medicine, ethics, and human vulnerability—where every decision carries consequences, and relief is often inseparable from consequences.
Joshua Hazan Mea
Watercolour on high-quality watercolour paper, using layered washes to create depth and smooth gradients. Controlled blending and subtle brushstrokes highlight the interplay between light and shadow. The composition focuses on natural textures and delicate details to convey the emotional narrative of the swan and cygnets' journey across the water.
Through the imagery of a mother swan guiding her three cygnets across a calm yet rippling lake, this watercolour piece attempts to capture a patient's journey of finding relief from pain. The flowing watercolours represent how pain ebbs and flows, affecting both body and mind. The mother swan symbolizes strength, leading her young through uncertain waters, much like how people facing pain rely on support and connection to navigate their challenges. The ripples around them show how pain doesn’t just affect one person—it impacts families, caregivers, and communities. Each colour in the piece tells part of a patient's story: deep blues for moments of despair, warm yellows for sparks of hope, and soft greys for moments of reflection. Inspired by the theme "Shared Horizons: What do I do for pain?" this artwork highlights the importance of care, resilience, and the strength we find in each other when facing life’s struggles.

Unseen Struggles, Shared Horizons
NoorAl Kaabi
"This artwork captures the visceral experience of pain and delirium in the intensive care unit (ICU). A woman lies in her hospital bed, her skin flushed red, symbolizing agony the body’s distress under illness and medical intervention. Her hair transforms into a dense and tangled jungle — her mind is both sanctuary and a nightmare. Through this piece, I explore the delicate balance between alleviating suffering and the cognitive consequences of sedation. The question “What do I do for pain?” is not only personal but deeply ethical. Physicians are tasked with understanding the evolving landscape of pain management. Recent evidence favors multimodal pain relief strategies over excessive sedation to reduce ICU delirium and cognitive impairment. The historical reliance on benzodiazepines is waning, while non-pharmacologic interventions such as early mobility gain favour. This piece invites the viewer to step into this complex intersection of medicine, ethics, and human vulnerability—where every decision carries consequences, and relief is often inseparable from consequences.
Rangana Hetti Arachchige
I used street photography techniques, focusing on natural light, candid composition, and contrast to capture raw, unfiltered moments of chronic pain.
“Unseen Struggles, Shared Horizons” is a visual journey through the hidden realities of chronic pain in Canada. From the relentless toll on trades workers to young adults lost in the transition between care systems, from aging bodies bearing decades of discomfort to the silent suffering of those without stable housing—pain is everywhere, yet too often ignored. Each image captures a moment of endurance, isolation, and resilience, reflecting the systemic gaps that leave many without adequate support. But pain is not just an individual experience; it is a shared reality that demands collective action. This collection invites viewers to see beyond the surface, to recognize the humanity in suffering, and to imagine a future where pain care is equitable and accessible for all. Through these images, I ask: What do we do for pain? And more importantly, what can we do together?

The Monarch's Garden
NoorAl Kaabi
"This artwork captures the visceral experience of pain and delirium in the intensive care unit (ICU). A woman lies in her hospital bed, her skin flushed red, symbolizing agony the body’s distress under illness and medical intervention. Her hair transforms into a dense and tangled jungle — her mind is both sanctuary and a nightmare. Through this piece, I explore the delicate balance between alleviating suffering and the cognitive consequences of sedation. The question “What do I do for pain?” is not only personal but deeply ethical. Physicians are tasked with understanding the evolving landscape of pain management. Recent evidence favors multimodal pain relief strategies over excessive sedation to reduce ICU delirium and cognitive impairment. The historical reliance on benzodiazepines is waning, while non-pharmacologic interventions such as early mobility gain favour. This piece invites the viewer to step into this complex intersection of medicine, ethics, and human vulnerability—where every decision carries consequences, and relief is often inseparable from consequences.
Jonathan Isenor
Detailed freehand drawing and acrylic paint on cardstock.
"The Monarch's Garden" is a testament to resilience, where beauty flourishes. Two monarch butterflies, symbols of transformation and hope, grace a vibrant sunflower patch. The stained-glass-inspired background, with its intricate patterns and luminous colors, reflects the complex layers of lived experience, both the fragility and the enduring strength. This painting explores the power of art to transcend physical limitations, capturing the enduring strength of the human spirit to find joy and beauty in the world around us.

2am Painsomnia
NoorAl Kaabi
"This artwork captures the visceral experience of pain and delirium in the intensive care unit (ICU). A woman lies in her hospital bed, her skin flushed red, symbolizing agony the body’s distress under illness and medical intervention. Her hair transforms into a dense and tangled jungle — her mind is both sanctuary and a nightmare. Through this piece, I explore the delicate balance between alleviating suffering and the cognitive consequences of sedation. The question “What do I do for pain?” is not only personal but deeply ethical. Physicians are tasked with understanding the evolving landscape of pain management. Recent evidence favors multimodal pain relief strategies over excessive sedation to reduce ICU delirium and cognitive impairment. The historical reliance on benzodiazepines is waning, while non-pharmacologic interventions such as early mobility gain favour. This piece invites the viewer to step into this complex intersection of medicine, ethics, and human vulnerability—where every decision carries consequences, and relief is often inseparable from consequences.
Isabel Jordan
Oil on canvas, application of monotype print on tissue paper.
It’s 2am. I’m in pain, or maybe one of my kids is in pain. Either way – it’s painsomnia. Laying on the bathroom floor, hoping the flare will pass, I stare out the skylight and rail against the universe for torturing us like this. I breathe. I breathe more slowly. There’s no point in going to bed. Instead, I search again… looking for answers… looking for help… looking for options that we didn’t know were possible. I breathe. It won’t help this flare, but maybe it will point us to a direction that can provide relief. Until then, I breathe in for 5, hold for 5, and breathe out for 7. And I keep searching.

The Green Pacifier (an email to a physiatrist)
NoorAl Kaabi
"This artwork captures the visceral experience of pain and delirium in the intensive care unit (ICU). A woman lies in her hospital bed, her skin flushed red, symbolizing agony the body’s distress under illness and medical intervention. Her hair transforms into a dense and tangled jungle — her mind is both sanctuary and a nightmare. Through this piece, I explore the delicate balance between alleviating suffering and the cognitive consequences of sedation. The question “What do I do for pain?” is not only personal but deeply ethical. Physicians are tasked with understanding the evolving landscape of pain management. Recent evidence favors multimodal pain relief strategies over excessive sedation to reduce ICU delirium and cognitive impairment. The historical reliance on benzodiazepines is waning, while non-pharmacologic interventions such as early mobility gain favour. This piece invites the viewer to step into this complex intersection of medicine, ethics, and human vulnerability—where every decision carries consequences, and relief is often inseparable from consequences.
Ben Kates
Read the full poem here.
Typed poem in email format.
Stream of consciousness introspection.

Feeling Burning Ice
NoorAl Kaabi
"This artwork captures the visceral experience of pain and delirium in the intensive care unit (ICU). A woman lies in her hospital bed, her skin flushed red, symbolizing agony the body’s distress under illness and medical intervention. Her hair transforms into a dense and tangled jungle — her mind is both sanctuary and a nightmare. Through this piece, I explore the delicate balance between alleviating suffering and the cognitive consequences of sedation. The question “What do I do for pain?” is not only personal but deeply ethical. Physicians are tasked with understanding the evolving landscape of pain management. Recent evidence favors multimodal pain relief strategies over excessive sedation to reduce ICU delirium and cognitive impairment. The historical reliance on benzodiazepines is waning, while non-pharmacologic interventions such as early mobility gain favour. This piece invites the viewer to step into this complex intersection of medicine, ethics, and human vulnerability—where every decision carries consequences, and relief is often inseparable from consequences.
Jeffrey King
Acrylic painting on canvas.
I was helping the nuns decorate the local church for Christmas many years ago. I was on chômage waiting on a call to go back to work at the Belleterre Saw Mill (Part-Time only). I had left my university studies to take a job at the same place my father worked to support us many years ago. Little did I know that the Lord had other plans. I felt a ripping pain on my lower back going straight down my left leg. I could not put the slightest pressure on my foot. I was hopping and chuckling. Thing is, I have a tendancy to laught through pain...and yeah, this was horrible lol. I had pulled my lower back muscle and it ended swollen ''like a big baloney.'' The pain was constant unless I exercised to strengthen my back muscles enough to compensate for the pain. This represents what the jabbing, electrical spasms felt like at their worst.

Stillness
NoorAl Kaabi
"This artwork captures the visceral experience of pain and delirium in the intensive care unit (ICU). A woman lies in her hospital bed, her skin flushed red, symbolizing agony the body’s distress under illness and medical intervention. Her hair transforms into a dense and tangled jungle — her mind is both sanctuary and a nightmare. Through this piece, I explore the delicate balance between alleviating suffering and the cognitive consequences of sedation. The question “What do I do for pain?” is not only personal but deeply ethical. Physicians are tasked with understanding the evolving landscape of pain management. Recent evidence favors multimodal pain relief strategies over excessive sedation to reduce ICU delirium and cognitive impairment. The historical reliance on benzodiazepines is waning, while non-pharmacologic interventions such as early mobility gain favour. This piece invites the viewer to step into this complex intersection of medicine, ethics, and human vulnerability—where every decision carries consequences, and relief is often inseparable from consequences.
Flore Le Blanc
Acrylics painting on canvas.
A lone figure sits on the floor, gazing at the viewer with an expression between vulnerability and pain. The visible brushstrokes capture the weight of solitude, with blue hues around the figure emphasizing the stillness and melancholy of the moment. It's my hope to evoke a feeling of connection between the painting and the observer, regardless of the viewer's personal history.

Don't Let Me See Your Stains
NoorAl Kaabi
"This artwork captures the visceral experience of pain and delirium in the intensive care unit (ICU). A woman lies in her hospital bed, her skin flushed red, symbolizing agony the body’s distress under illness and medical intervention. Her hair transforms into a dense and tangled jungle — her mind is both sanctuary and a nightmare. Through this piece, I explore the delicate balance between alleviating suffering and the cognitive consequences of sedation. The question “What do I do for pain?” is not only personal but deeply ethical. Physicians are tasked with understanding the evolving landscape of pain management. Recent evidence favors multimodal pain relief strategies over excessive sedation to reduce ICU delirium and cognitive impairment. The historical reliance on benzodiazepines is waning, while non-pharmacologic interventions such as early mobility gain favour. This piece invites the viewer to step into this complex intersection of medicine, ethics, and human vulnerability—where every decision carries consequences, and relief is often inseparable from consequences.
Pilar Lagos
Monotype, collagraph and chine collé on Rives BFK (white) paper.
A part of the “Seen or unseen” body of work. By using a strip of red glittered paper, I aim to depict the rawness and courage that it takes to be imperfectly human.

A Chat with Pain
NoorAl Kaabi
"This artwork captures the visceral experience of pain and delirium in the intensive care unit (ICU). A woman lies in her hospital bed, her skin flushed red, symbolizing agony the body’s distress under illness and medical intervention. Her hair transforms into a dense and tangled jungle — her mind is both sanctuary and a nightmare. Through this piece, I explore the delicate balance between alleviating suffering and the cognitive consequences of sedation. The question “What do I do for pain?” is not only personal but deeply ethical. Physicians are tasked with understanding the evolving landscape of pain management. Recent evidence favors multimodal pain relief strategies over excessive sedation to reduce ICU delirium and cognitive impairment. The historical reliance on benzodiazepines is waning, while non-pharmacologic interventions such as early mobility gain favour. This piece invites the viewer to step into this complex intersection of medicine, ethics, and human vulnerability—where every decision carries consequences, and relief is often inseparable from consequences.
Danielle Lewis
Read full poem here
Pencil colouring and handwritten poem.
What I do for my pain is to speak with it; we learn from each other and heal together. We are in a relationship; we live together and have everything in common—shared experiences, thoughts, and emotions. So, we try and get along the best we can.

"Flying"
NoorAl Kaabi
"This artwork captures the visceral experience of pain and delirium in the intensive care unit (ICU). A woman lies in her hospital bed, her skin flushed red, symbolizing agony the body’s distress under illness and medical intervention. Her hair transforms into a dense and tangled jungle — her mind is both sanctuary and a nightmare. Through this piece, I explore the delicate balance between alleviating suffering and the cognitive consequences of sedation. The question “What do I do for pain?” is not only personal but deeply ethical. Physicians are tasked with understanding the evolving landscape of pain management. Recent evidence favors multimodal pain relief strategies over excessive sedation to reduce ICU delirium and cognitive impairment. The historical reliance on benzodiazepines is waning, while non-pharmacologic interventions such as early mobility gain favour. This piece invites the viewer to step into this complex intersection of medicine, ethics, and human vulnerability—where every decision carries consequences, and relief is often inseparable from consequences.
JC Little
Water color painting mounted to a tile with waxed to seal and protect it.
I love the umbrella as a metaphor for agency and self-determination; in this piece I’m playing with themes of release, freedom and hope. Many of the children who attend hospital are dealing with long term illness and treatment. For my contribution to the mural at the Montreal Children's Hospital, I wanted to offer something that might spark the imagination and give a sense of wonder. Imagine if you had a magical umbrella that could catch the wind and take you anywhere you want to go? Art can take you away and the sky’s the limit.

My Mask at 16
NoorAl Kaabi
"This artwork captures the visceral experience of pain and delirium in the intensive care unit (ICU). A woman lies in her hospital bed, her skin flushed red, symbolizing agony the body’s distress under illness and medical intervention. Her hair transforms into a dense and tangled jungle — her mind is both sanctuary and a nightmare. Through this piece, I explore the delicate balance between alleviating suffering and the cognitive consequences of sedation. The question “What do I do for pain?” is not only personal but deeply ethical. Physicians are tasked with understanding the evolving landscape of pain management. Recent evidence favors multimodal pain relief strategies over excessive sedation to reduce ICU delirium and cognitive impairment. The historical reliance on benzodiazepines is waning, while non-pharmacologic interventions such as early mobility gain favour. This piece invites the viewer to step into this complex intersection of medicine, ethics, and human vulnerability—where every decision carries consequences, and relief is often inseparable from consequences.
Aarabella Lortie
I used acrylic paint, foam and air dry clay, hot glue, and paint markers.
This art work depicts my chronic pain and shows the tension between being myself and hiding behind my mask when I feel I can't meet societal expectations. It also shows things communicated to me by those who don't understand my disability and contrasts these with some truths and encouraging words from supporters. Making art is life-giving to me.

Pledge of a Pain Physician
NoorAl Kaabi
"This artwork captures the visceral experience of pain and delirium in the intensive care unit (ICU). A woman lies in her hospital bed, her skin flushed red, symbolizing agony the body’s distress under illness and medical intervention. Her hair transforms into a dense and tangled jungle — her mind is both sanctuary and a nightmare. Through this piece, I explore the delicate balance between alleviating suffering and the cognitive consequences of sedation. The question “What do I do for pain?” is not only personal but deeply ethical. Physicians are tasked with understanding the evolving landscape of pain management. Recent evidence favors multimodal pain relief strategies over excessive sedation to reduce ICU delirium and cognitive impairment. The historical reliance on benzodiazepines is waning, while non-pharmacologic interventions such as early mobility gain favour. This piece invites the viewer to step into this complex intersection of medicine, ethics, and human vulnerability—where every decision carries consequences, and relief is often inseparable from consequences.
Virginia McEwen
Fluoroscopy image, editing and text with Canva.
This image taken during my fellowship over 4 years ago captured the essence of how I felt (and still do) embarking on my journey as a new pain physician: conviction of the importance of pain medicine as a specialty, compassion for people living with pain, comraderie with colleagues with whom I share this calling, and joy in my work. The written pledge is not intended as prescriptive, rather a statement of what I hope to embody as a pain physician, and what I have seen in other pain physicians whom I look up to. . .

The Resonance of Pain
NoorAl Kaabi
"This artwork captures the visceral experience of pain and delirium in the intensive care unit (ICU). A woman lies in her hospital bed, her skin flushed red, symbolizing agony the body’s distress under illness and medical intervention. Her hair transforms into a dense and tangled jungle — her mind is both sanctuary and a nightmare. Through this piece, I explore the delicate balance between alleviating suffering and the cognitive consequences of sedation. The question “What do I do for pain?” is not only personal but deeply ethical. Physicians are tasked with understanding the evolving landscape of pain management. Recent evidence favors multimodal pain relief strategies over excessive sedation to reduce ICU delirium and cognitive impairment. The historical reliance on benzodiazepines is waning, while non-pharmacologic interventions such as early mobility gain favour. This piece invites the viewer to step into this complex intersection of medicine, ethics, and human vulnerability—where every decision carries consequences, and relief is often inseparable from consequences.
Imola Mihalecz
Modeling paste, sand, and acrylic paint on canvas.
Pain is personal, pain is subjective, pain is abstract. Pain becomes pain through the person who lives it. Pain resonates as a multidimensional feeling. You see it, judge it, touch it, embrace it. It is more than a physiological response. It is a point of view between multiple realities.

Patient
NoorAl Kaabi
"This artwork captures the visceral experience of pain and delirium in the intensive care unit (ICU). A woman lies in her hospital bed, her skin flushed red, symbolizing agony the body’s distress under illness and medical intervention. Her hair transforms into a dense and tangled jungle — her mind is both sanctuary and a nightmare. Through this piece, I explore the delicate balance between alleviating suffering and the cognitive consequences of sedation. The question “What do I do for pain?” is not only personal but deeply ethical. Physicians are tasked with understanding the evolving landscape of pain management. Recent evidence favors multimodal pain relief strategies over excessive sedation to reduce ICU delirium and cognitive impairment. The historical reliance on benzodiazepines is waning, while non-pharmacologic interventions such as early mobility gain favour. This piece invites the viewer to step into this complex intersection of medicine, ethics, and human vulnerability—where every decision carries consequences, and relief is often inseparable from consequences.
Cassandra Myers
Poetry, Dance, Cinema
Patient is a spoken word-dance video created for the UBC H.E.A.L Project which instructed doctors how to better treat their patients with chronic pain. The video details my lived experience with chronic pain alongside my chronic pain dance.

Embodying Pain: The Connection of Body and Mind
NoorAl Kaabi
"This artwork captures the visceral experience of pain and delirium in the intensive care unit (ICU). A woman lies in her hospital bed, her skin flushed red, symbolizing agony the body’s distress under illness and medical intervention. Her hair transforms into a dense and tangled jungle — her mind is both sanctuary and a nightmare. Through this piece, I explore the delicate balance between alleviating suffering and the cognitive consequences of sedation. The question “What do I do for pain?” is not only personal but deeply ethical. Physicians are tasked with understanding the evolving landscape of pain management. Recent evidence favors multimodal pain relief strategies over excessive sedation to reduce ICU delirium and cognitive impairment. The historical reliance on benzodiazepines is waning, while non-pharmacologic interventions such as early mobility gain favour. This piece invites the viewer to step into this complex intersection of medicine, ethics, and human vulnerability—where every decision carries consequences, and relief is often inseparable from consequences.
Lindsay Neuert
Fine line black ink on paper.
Exploring the intimate relationship between physical suffering and the emotional experience of pain. The abstract composition emphasizes the neural and spinal pathways, highlighting the brain and spinal cord as central to the pain experience. The figure’s grimace expresses the profound discomfort and tension that arises from the body's response to pain. This artwork reflects the question, "What do I do for pain?" by illustrating how pain, while physical, also deeply affects the mind. Through the figure’s struggle, the piece suggests that the journey to cope with pain is a complex interaction between body and mind. By focusing on the spine and facial expression, the artwork invites the viewer to reflect on the multifaceted nature of pain and how we each respond to it in our own way.

Flourishing Through Pain
NoorAl Kaabi
"This artwork captures the visceral experience of pain and delirium in the intensive care unit (ICU). A woman lies in her hospital bed, her skin flushed red, symbolizing agony the body’s distress under illness and medical intervention. Her hair transforms into a dense and tangled jungle — her mind is both sanctuary and a nightmare. Through this piece, I explore the delicate balance between alleviating suffering and the cognitive consequences of sedation. The question “What do I do for pain?” is not only personal but deeply ethical. Physicians are tasked with understanding the evolving landscape of pain management. Recent evidence favors multimodal pain relief strategies over excessive sedation to reduce ICU delirium and cognitive impairment. The historical reliance on benzodiazepines is waning, while non-pharmacologic interventions such as early mobility gain favour. This piece invites the viewer to step into this complex intersection of medicine, ethics, and human vulnerability—where every decision carries consequences, and relief is often inseparable from consequences.
Meg Neufeld
Collage with alcohol ink, gold leaf foiling, and acrylic paint.
Pain is an ever-changing landscape—unpredictable yet deeply rooted in experience. 'Flourishing Through Pain' reflects my journey of learning from nature’s lessons on growth, rest, renewal, and resilience through art.
A towering tree stands strong, its vast roots symbolizing the unwavering care and love of my support system which nourishes and strengthens me. Vibrant leaves represent the bi-annual surgeries and medication that help me function daily. A mountain range serves as a reminder of perspective—journaling helps me navigate pain’s peaks and valleys—while a rising cloud embodies faith and music, lifting my spirit. The golden sun on the horizon radiates hope with every step I take. Blooming flowers inspire me to embrace creativity, enjoy the little things, and celebrate colour to boost my mood, while the ocean’s ebb and flow mirror pain’s unpredictability. These mindful elements sustain me, transforming each pain-full day into moments of strength, growth, and hope.

La liberté au-delà de la douleur, quelle douceur !
NoorAl Kaabi
"This artwork captures the visceral experience of pain and delirium in the intensive care unit (ICU). A woman lies in her hospital bed, her skin flushed red, symbolizing agony the body’s distress under illness and medical intervention. Her hair transforms into a dense and tangled jungle — her mind is both sanctuary and a nightmare. Through this piece, I explore the delicate balance between alleviating suffering and the cognitive consequences of sedation. The question “What do I do for pain?” is not only personal but deeply ethical. Physicians are tasked with understanding the evolving landscape of pain management. Recent evidence favors multimodal pain relief strategies over excessive sedation to reduce ICU delirium and cognitive impairment. The historical reliance on benzodiazepines is waning, while non-pharmacologic interventions such as early mobility gain favour. This piece invites the viewer to step into this complex intersection of medicine, ethics, and human vulnerability—where every decision carries consequences, and relief is often inseparable from consequences.
Carole Paris
Médium et techniques utilisées : Acrylique sur toile. Toile Naïve et évolutive modifiée à chaque étape complétée par les aventuriers, ainsi qu'aux étapes de mon cheminement personnel dans le cadre de ce projet de 7 mois.
Vivre avec la douleur, c’est comme porter un fardeau invisible, se sentir spectateur de sa propre vie, et se retrouver condamnée à l’incertitude et à la solitude. Puis, en 2021, ma vie a commencé à se transformer lentement, mais sûrement. Aux côtés d’autres personnes souffrant de douleur chronique, nous avons accepté l’invitation de notre médecin : Bouger. Ensemble, nous avons entrepris un défi ambitieux, cumuler le même nombre de kilomètres d’activités physiques à chaque semaine, que ceux parcourus par les aventuriers de l’Expédition AKOR qui traversaient le Canada du Nord au Sud au même moment. Cette toile raconte cette expérience où pendant cette association avec les aventuriers et mes collègues, nous nous sommes remis à être actifs. Nous avons traversé virtuellement le Canada et partager avec eux leurs défis, nos défis !
Pris dans un cercle de douleur, d’isolement et de sédentarité, nous avons trouvé de l’espoir en devenant des coéquipiers à distance de ces aventuriers inspirants. Tout comme nous, ils affrontaient leurs propres défis, les imprévus, les doutes et la solitude face à la majesté et à la rigueur de la nature. À travers leur aventure, nous nous sommes reconnus. Un pas après l’autre, en mouvement et reliés, nous avons compris que nous n’étions pas seuls face à la douleur chronique. Nous avons appris que nous pouvions coexister avec la douleur mais qu’elle ne définissait pas qui nous étions.
Sept mois plus tard, inspirés par cette expérience, nous avons retrouvé un nouveau versant de la vie, celui des possibilités et de l’engagement. Nous avons repris possession de notre existence, et redécouvert la joie de vivre, entourés de nos proches. Cette œuvre représente mon parcours personnel. Aujourd'hui, en tant que patiente partenaire, je souhaite offrir l’espoir à ceux qui, comme moi, cherchent à traverser leur propre versant et retrouver la lumière.

From Shadows to Wings
NoorAl Kaabi
"This artwork captures the visceral experience of pain and delirium in the intensive care unit (ICU). A woman lies in her hospital bed, her skin flushed red, symbolizing agony the body’s distress under illness and medical intervention. Her hair transforms into a dense and tangled jungle — her mind is both sanctuary and a nightmare. Through this piece, I explore the delicate balance between alleviating suffering and the cognitive consequences of sedation. The question “What do I do for pain?” is not only personal but deeply ethical. Physicians are tasked with understanding the evolving landscape of pain management. Recent evidence favors multimodal pain relief strategies over excessive sedation to reduce ICU delirium and cognitive impairment. The historical reliance on benzodiazepines is waning, while non-pharmacologic interventions such as early mobility gain favour. This piece invites the viewer to step into this complex intersection of medicine, ethics, and human vulnerability—where every decision carries consequences, and relief is often inseparable from consequences.
Ginette Robitaille
Acrylics, gold leaf, and texture mediums,inspired by Kintsugi
What Do I Do for Pain?
As a female veteran, I carry both visible and invisible wounds. When pain becomes overwhelming, I turn to art—not just as an escape, but as a means of survival.
Painting is my meditation. As my brush moves across the canvas, my mind rewires itself. Pain fades into the background, replaced by focus, flow, and creation. Each brushstroke becomes a silent prayer, each layer a step toward healing.
My painting, From Shadows to Wings, captures this journey. The monarch butterflies symbolize resilience, reminding me that even in darkness, I can find light. The blue butterflies represent hope, a promise of renewal. Gold leaf echoes Kintsugi, the Japanese art of mending with gold, embracing scars as symbols of strength.
I turn pain into art—transforming hardship into healing. Art is my refuge, my resilience, my wings.

Peace
NoorAl Kaabi
"This artwork captures the visceral experience of pain and delirium in the intensive care unit (ICU). A woman lies in her hospital bed, her skin flushed red, symbolizing agony the body’s distress under illness and medical intervention. Her hair transforms into a dense and tangled jungle — her mind is both sanctuary and a nightmare. Through this piece, I explore the delicate balance between alleviating suffering and the cognitive consequences of sedation. The question “What do I do for pain?” is not only personal but deeply ethical. Physicians are tasked with understanding the evolving landscape of pain management. Recent evidence favors multimodal pain relief strategies over excessive sedation to reduce ICU delirium and cognitive impairment. The historical reliance on benzodiazepines is waning, while non-pharmacologic interventions such as early mobility gain favour. This piece invites the viewer to step into this complex intersection of medicine, ethics, and human vulnerability—where every decision carries consequences, and relief is often inseparable from consequences.
Paula Roumeliotis
Photo taken with Samsung A14.
When I am surrounded by nature I experience a deep sense of peace in my mind,body and soul and I feel grounded and connected to the earth. These peaceful feelings calm my nervous system which is a powerful self-management tool that I use to cope with living with persistent pain. In recent years, I took up photography as a hobby and I discovered a passion for it. Being creative with photography and sharing nature's beauty with others brings me great joy. This photo was taken at the Pacheedaht Campground in Port Renfrew BC.

Self-deception
NoorAl Kaabi
"This artwork captures the visceral experience of pain and delirium in the intensive care unit (ICU). A woman lies in her hospital bed, her skin flushed red, symbolizing agony the body’s distress under illness and medical intervention. Her hair transforms into a dense and tangled jungle — her mind is both sanctuary and a nightmare. Through this piece, I explore the delicate balance between alleviating suffering and the cognitive consequences of sedation. The question “What do I do for pain?” is not only personal but deeply ethical. Physicians are tasked with understanding the evolving landscape of pain management. Recent evidence favors multimodal pain relief strategies over excessive sedation to reduce ICU delirium and cognitive impairment. The historical reliance on benzodiazepines is waning, while non-pharmacologic interventions such as early mobility gain favour. This piece invites the viewer to step into this complex intersection of medicine, ethics, and human vulnerability—where every decision carries consequences, and relief is often inseparable from consequences.
Rabia Salman
POV or first-person shot and photoshop techniques are used in this photograph.
This photograph depicts a visual of deflecting the mind’s attention from one source of pain to another less afflicting version of it. This phenomenon known as “conditioned pain modulation” (CPM) describes applying painful stimuli to a part of the body that decreases the perception of pain elsewhere. The pain inflicted by jabbing fingernails into one’s palms refocuses the mind's attention, deceiving it to focus on the more bearable pain that is within its own control. I discovered this was a coping mechanism I was using unconsciously against chronic migraine pain. The darkness surrounding the hands symbolizes “the aura” experienced before a migraine. Blur and motion delay of the hands is used to illustrate the countless attempts to gain control over one’s pain. The red sweater portrays anger felt towards the body for hurting itself, meanwhile the blue background mirrors the deep fragility and sadness that comes alongside chronic pain.

Mon tronc
NoorAl Kaabi
"This artwork captures the visceral experience of pain and delirium in the intensive care unit (ICU). A woman lies in her hospital bed, her skin flushed red, symbolizing agony the body’s distress under illness and medical intervention. Her hair transforms into a dense and tangled jungle — her mind is both sanctuary and a nightmare. Through this piece, I explore the delicate balance between alleviating suffering and the cognitive consequences of sedation. The question “What do I do for pain?” is not only personal but deeply ethical. Physicians are tasked with understanding the evolving landscape of pain management. Recent evidence favors multimodal pain relief strategies over excessive sedation to reduce ICU delirium and cognitive impairment. The historical reliance on benzodiazepines is waning, while non-pharmacologic interventions such as early mobility gain favour. This piece invites the viewer to step into this complex intersection of medicine, ethics, and human vulnerability—where every decision carries consequences, and relief is often inseparable from consequences.
Donald Sergerie Jr.
Peinture acrylique sur toile. Dimensions 20 x 8 pouces
D’arbre rabougri de par son tronc aigri, les douleurs chroniques ne sont que sablier, s’égrenant que très peu lentement, où les jours défilent au même rythme que la nouvelle feuille s’étant pointée le bout du nez dans mon "money tree" ce matin, où rêves et racines s’accrochent à la vie, mais que difficilement parfois. Et à travers les rictus et autres faciès où les maux trouvent écho, et malgré les ciels plus souvent qu’autrement sombres et orageux, kizis arrive toujours à caresser la joue de ses premiers rayons du printemps, tendre attention permettant d’en respirer tous les arômes du moment présent.
Deej@2025

Things that fall apart may yet stay together
NoorAl Kaabi
"This artwork captures the visceral experience of pain and delirium in the intensive care unit (ICU). A woman lies in her hospital bed, her skin flushed red, symbolizing agony the body’s distress under illness and medical intervention. Her hair transforms into a dense and tangled jungle — her mind is both sanctuary and a nightmare. Through this piece, I explore the delicate balance between alleviating suffering and the cognitive consequences of sedation. The question “What do I do for pain?” is not only personal but deeply ethical. Physicians are tasked with understanding the evolving landscape of pain management. Recent evidence favors multimodal pain relief strategies over excessive sedation to reduce ICU delirium and cognitive impairment. The historical reliance on benzodiazepines is waning, while non-pharmacologic interventions such as early mobility gain favour. This piece invites the viewer to step into this complex intersection of medicine, ethics, and human vulnerability—where every decision carries consequences, and relief is often inseparable from consequences.
Physio Sparks
Drawing on paper using a hatching technique.
This drawing features a fractured, mirror-like body symbolizing the fragmentation of one’s sense of self due to pain. At its heart is an African woman, embodying both vulnerability and resilience as she navigates the burden of chronic pain. Her fragility highlights the disproportionate suffering faced by individuals with Sickle Cell Disease (SCD), a disease as devastating and widespread as Cancer, yet often overlooked.
Despite recent advancements in pain management, significant challenges remain. The American Society of Hematology (ASH) has developed comprehensive guidelines, but many patients still face barriers such as limited access to specialized care and a lack of understanding about SCD pain. The emotional and psychological impact on patients and their families is often underappreciated.
Canada has made strides through initiatives like the Sickle Cell Disease Association of Canada (SCDAC), research programs, and newborn screening. However, gaps persist, including inconsistent screening, limited specialized care, and insufficient public awareness.
International collaboration, especially with low- and middle-income countries in Africa, is crucial. Sharing knowledge, enhancing research, and improving access to care can significantly impact SCD management globally.
Recent advancements have brought hope with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of ground-breaking gene therapies, which represent potential cures for SCD. These therapies use gene-editing technology to modify a patient's own stem cells, offering a promising solution. However, their high cost may limit accessibility for many patients.
This artwork underscores the intersectionality of pain, acknowledging the complexities faced by those with SCD. It invites viewers to reflect on the multifaceted nature of pain and to laud the remarkable resilience of those who endure it.

The Trigeminal Tree: Medication, Music, and Nature
NoorAl Kaabi
"This artwork captures the visceral experience of pain and delirium in the intensive care unit (ICU). A woman lies in her hospital bed, her skin flushed red, symbolizing agony the body’s distress under illness and medical intervention. Her hair transforms into a dense and tangled jungle — her mind is both sanctuary and a nightmare. Through this piece, I explore the delicate balance between alleviating suffering and the cognitive consequences of sedation. The question “What do I do for pain?” is not only personal but deeply ethical. Physicians are tasked with understanding the evolving landscape of pain management. Recent evidence favors multimodal pain relief strategies over excessive sedation to reduce ICU delirium and cognitive impairment. The historical reliance on benzodiazepines is waning, while non-pharmacologic interventions such as early mobility gain favour. This piece invites the viewer to step into this complex intersection of medicine, ethics, and human vulnerability—where every decision carries consequences, and relief is often inseparable from consequences.
Isabella Spensieri
Acrylic paint on canvas, 3D elements, and marker.
I live with trigeminal neuralgia, and there are three main ‘tools’ that I use for pain: pharmacological interventions, listening to music, and being in nature. To illustrate these ‘tools,’ the painting showcases a tree. Depending on your viewpoint, it can also look like a head and neck. At the bottom of the tree are rocks, which are old pill bottles of mine. The tree’s leaves are made from my pill bottle labels, medication paper bags, and used pill packaging; if you look closely, you can see various medication names. Another 3D element is the symbolic pair of trigeminal nerves; these ‘nerves’ are made from real tree branches that I’ve painted. There is a syringe in the top right, to represent trigeminal nerve blocks that I frequently receive. Finally, music notes flow out of one prescription bottle, showing that soothing pain involves more than medication.

Me and Migraine, no matter the weather
NoorAl Kaabi
"This artwork captures the visceral experience of pain and delirium in the intensive care unit (ICU). A woman lies in her hospital bed, her skin flushed red, symbolizing agony the body’s distress under illness and medical intervention. Her hair transforms into a dense and tangled jungle — her mind is both sanctuary and a nightmare. Through this piece, I explore the delicate balance between alleviating suffering and the cognitive consequences of sedation. The question “What do I do for pain?” is not only personal but deeply ethical. Physicians are tasked with understanding the evolving landscape of pain management. Recent evidence favors multimodal pain relief strategies over excessive sedation to reduce ICU delirium and cognitive impairment. The historical reliance on benzodiazepines is waning, while non-pharmacologic interventions such as early mobility gain favour. This piece invites the viewer to step into this complex intersection of medicine, ethics, and human vulnerability—where every decision carries consequences, and relief is often inseparable from consequences.
Bonnie Thompson
Photo editing tool.
Here I am on holiday on Vancouver Island with a migraine. No matter my condition or the weather, I sit outside. I bathe myself in the elements, allowing the wind, the sun, the snow, or the rain to wash over me.

Pain Waves | Vagues de douleur
NoorAl Kaabi
"This artwork captures the visceral experience of pain and delirium in the intensive care unit (ICU). A woman lies in her hospital bed, her skin flushed red, symbolizing agony the body’s distress under illness and medical intervention. Her hair transforms into a dense and tangled jungle — her mind is both sanctuary and a nightmare. Through this piece, I explore the delicate balance between alleviating suffering and the cognitive consequences of sedation. The question “What do I do for pain?” is not only personal but deeply ethical. Physicians are tasked with understanding the evolving landscape of pain management. Recent evidence favors multimodal pain relief strategies over excessive sedation to reduce ICU delirium and cognitive impairment. The historical reliance on benzodiazepines is waning, while non-pharmacologic interventions such as early mobility gain favour. This piece invites the viewer to step into this complex intersection of medicine, ethics, and human vulnerability—where every decision carries consequences, and relief is often inseparable from consequences.
Sandra Woods
Watercolor.
What do I do for pain? For my own pain, I try to adapt! When I’m experiencing waves of CRPS pain, I try to metaphorically surf through them. My metaphorical surfboard might be any – or all – of my pain-management tools, including my art practice, being with family and friends, cuddling with my husband, cycling and other exercise, mindful meditation, singing (badly) or humming along to music, and spending time in nature.
And for others' pain I'm significantly involved in chronic pain advocacy, awareness-raising, education, research, and support, and am a Patient Partner for several groups and projects.
My #ArtDespitePain initiative, meanwhile, encourages others living with persistent pain to try creative pursuits as a brain-plasticity or neuro-plasticity tool for their pain.

Sharing in a Cup of Tea
NoorAl Kaabi
"This artwork captures the visceral experience of pain and delirium in the intensive care unit (ICU). A woman lies in her hospital bed, her skin flushed red, symbolizing agony the body’s distress under illness and medical intervention. Her hair transforms into a dense and tangled jungle — her mind is both sanctuary and a nightmare. Through this piece, I explore the delicate balance between alleviating suffering and the cognitive consequences of sedation. The question “What do I do for pain?” is not only personal but deeply ethical. Physicians are tasked with understanding the evolving landscape of pain management. Recent evidence favors multimodal pain relief strategies over excessive sedation to reduce ICU delirium and cognitive impairment. The historical reliance on benzodiazepines is waning, while non-pharmacologic interventions such as early mobility gain favour. This piece invites the viewer to step into this complex intersection of medicine, ethics, and human vulnerability—where every decision carries consequences, and relief is often inseparable from consequences.
Yvonne Brandelli
Shaped out of clay, glazed, and broken. Pieces out back together in the japanese style of Kintsugi.
Healing hurt begins with comfort and conversation, much like sharing in a cup of tea. As easily as we can share a cup of tea, we can share knowledge to impact the lives of children living with pain and their families. Each piece of this tea set embodies the knowledge and strength of those around the table.
The teapot represents knowledge holders - with waves symbolizing the knowledge that sustains and rejuvenates diverse life forms, and the spouted vessel reflecting the flow of water to those in need. The cups represent families, designed with sprouts to symbolize different ages and stages of life. Despite this difference, both continue to benefit from the nourishment provided by water. Pediatric pain can take a physical and mental toll on families, as represented by the cracks in one of the cups. These cracks, however, have been repaired with the knowledge and support of those around the table. The repair not only allows for resumed function; it also adds an element of fortitude and growth - the epitome of resilience.
The pieces on their own are not functional – the teapot with nowhere to pour tea and the cups with nothing to fill them. These pieces are best when together, just as clinicians, researchers, and families are most effective when they work together to generate and share knowledge about pain. We are most effective when we sit together – over a cup of tea.

In the Silence, I Still Hear Your Voice
NoorAl Kaabi
"This artwork captures the visceral experience of pain and delirium in the intensive care unit (ICU). A woman lies in her hospital bed, her skin flushed red, symbolizing agony the body’s distress under illness and medical intervention. Her hair transforms into a dense and tangled jungle — her mind is both sanctuary and a nightmare. Through this piece, I explore the delicate balance between alleviating suffering and the cognitive consequences of sedation. The question “What do I do for pain?” is not only personal but deeply ethical. Physicians are tasked with understanding the evolving landscape of pain management. Recent evidence favors multimodal pain relief strategies over excessive sedation to reduce ICU delirium and cognitive impairment. The historical reliance on benzodiazepines is waning, while non-pharmacologic interventions such as early mobility gain favour. This piece invites the viewer to step into this complex intersection of medicine, ethics, and human vulnerability—where every decision carries consequences, and relief is often inseparable from consequences.
Ella Crompton
Acrylic paint upon stretched canvas.
Sometimes I wonder what would’ve happened that night, if I called for you and you didn’t answer.
If sleep had kept you under its weight and my voice didn’t slip through the cracks.
If the tears that cascaded down my face didn’t worry you, if my words didn’t frighten you.
I wonder what I would’ve done.
But I also wonder what it was like for you.
For you to hear my voice slip through the cracks, breaking with every word.
For you to see my tears as they poured down my cheeks.
I wonder how scared you felt.
What I never wonder though, is why, when I sit in silence, I hear your voice.
When I speak into nothingness, with no response, your voice echoes around my head.
I never wonder, I never will, even when I thought I lost everything;
I never lost you.

Embrace: Maybe not a cure, but definitely help.
NoorAl Kaabi
"This artwork captures the visceral experience of pain and delirium in the intensive care unit (ICU). A woman lies in her hospital bed, her skin flushed red, symbolizing agony the body’s distress under illness and medical intervention. Her hair transforms into a dense and tangled jungle — her mind is both sanctuary and a nightmare. Through this piece, I explore the delicate balance between alleviating suffering and the cognitive consequences of sedation. The question “What do I do for pain?” is not only personal but deeply ethical. Physicians are tasked with understanding the evolving landscape of pain management. Recent evidence favors multimodal pain relief strategies over excessive sedation to reduce ICU delirium and cognitive impairment. The historical reliance on benzodiazepines is waning, while non-pharmacologic interventions such as early mobility gain favour. This piece invites the viewer to step into this complex intersection of medicine, ethics, and human vulnerability—where every decision carries consequences, and relief is often inseparable from consequences.
Veronica Dudarev
Ink on paper
Persistent pain is a lot of things, and what is often overlooked in this boatload is that persistent pain is isolating. It limits, sometimes severely, one’s participation in life and social relationships. While persistent pain usually exposes one to a lot of medical attention, it also drives one’s friends away. Many people with chronic pain find that there are fewer people whom they can still call friends. For many people, persistent pain causes conflicts within the family and sometimes leads to a divorce.
Indeed, it is challenging to be in a relationship with a person with chronic pain. Why it is so is a good question, and maybe a complex issue that involves both our natural desire to form relationships with successful people, our tendency to avoid frustrations (and pain is very frustrating in oneself and others), and probably a bit of empathy too. It is painful to look at someone in pain, and research shows that seeing someone in pain activates the same network in the brain that is involved in experiencing pain. Whatever the forces are, the result is that loneliness is a huge issue for people with persistent pain.
And it exacerbates pain. It likely does, research suggests. To be more precise, presence and support of other people alleviates pain. This is why I gave this ink painting this title: Embrace, maybe not a cure, but definitely help. Being kind and patient with people is not such a bad idea in general, and we humans may need reminders about that all the time (myself included). For people with persistent pain this is even more true. There is a lot of frustration in and around them, a lot of pain, which is unpleasant inside and outside. Yet one simple way to help is to simply be there.

Storm-Trapped Dreams
NoorAl Kaabi
"This artwork captures the visceral experience of pain and delirium in the intensive care unit (ICU). A woman lies in her hospital bed, her skin flushed red, symbolizing agony the body’s distress under illness and medical intervention. Her hair transforms into a dense and tangled jungle — her mind is both sanctuary and a nightmare. Through this piece, I explore the delicate balance between alleviating suffering and the cognitive consequences of sedation. The question “What do I do for pain?” is not only personal but deeply ethical. Physicians are tasked with understanding the evolving landscape of pain management. Recent evidence favors multimodal pain relief strategies over excessive sedation to reduce ICU delirium and cognitive impairment. The historical reliance on benzodiazepines is waning, while non-pharmacologic interventions such as early mobility gain favour. This piece invites the viewer to step into this complex intersection of medicine, ethics, and human vulnerability—where every decision carries consequences, and relief is often inseparable from consequences.
Nashmil Ehsaei
Photo montage
Hi, I'm Nashmil, and I have a story shrouded in darkness. Once, I thrived as a successful graphic designer, with a multitude of advertising clients and orders. I reveled in the art of playing with colors, shapes, typography, and layout... until an unforeseen tempest struck. In an instant, my radiant world was engulfed in darkness, plagued by double vision and relentless dizziness. The vibrant hues I once cherished had faded away. A diagnosis followed, revealing a rare autoimmune disease affecting my eyelid, casting a shadow over my entire existence. The only thing I could hold onto was my smile... I hoped it was fleeting. Even the longest night will end, and the sun will rise. So I smile.

First [2024]
Planting Seeds in the Wind
NoorAl Kaabi
"This artwork captures the visceral experience of pain and delirium in the intensive care unit (ICU). A woman lies in her hospital bed, her skin flushed red, symbolizing agony the body’s distress under illness and medical intervention. Her hair transforms into a dense and tangled jungle — her mind is both sanctuary and a nightmare. Through this piece, I explore the delicate balance between alleviating suffering and the cognitive consequences of sedation. The question “What do I do for pain?” is not only personal but deeply ethical. Physicians are tasked with understanding the evolving landscape of pain management. Recent evidence favors multimodal pain relief strategies over excessive sedation to reduce ICU delirium and cognitive impairment. The historical reliance on benzodiazepines is waning, while non-pharmacologic interventions such as early mobility gain favour. This piece invites the viewer to step into this complex intersection of medicine, ethics, and human vulnerability—where every decision carries consequences, and relief is often inseparable from consequences.
Ezinne Ekediegwu
Expressionism technique.
Within this evocative artwork lies a profound narrative that encapsulates the enduring struggle of a patient suffering from endometriosis, whose existence is characterized by persistent pain and weakness. Through her poignant portrayal, the artist conveys the individual's unwavering commitment to raising awareness and fostering understanding of this debilitating disease within her challenging societal context.
The central figure, adorned in traditional Nigerian attire, serves as a poignant representation of the broader societal challenges faced by individuals grappling with endometriosis in Nigeria. The deep crimson hue of her garments symbolizes the profound suffering endured and perpetuated by the disease. With a hand firmly clasped to her abdomen, the locus of her anguish, she endeavours to scatter seeds into the wind. These seeds serve as potent symbols of her tireless efforts to sow awareness and enlightenment regarding her condition. Yet, the wind itself serves as a metaphor for the societal currents that buffet her efforts, for the prevailing ignorance and indifference that shroud endometriosis within her community.
Indeed, statistics reveal a staggering reality: one in ten women are afflicted by endometriosis, yet awareness remains alarmingly scarce. In Nigeria, the dearth of specialized medical practitioners exacerbates the plight, with no more than two Endometriosis specialists navigating the complex terrain of this condition. Globally, the paucity of knowledge and the absence of a definitive cure cast a shadow over the lives of countless individuals.
The tragic narrative continues with accounts of medical practitioners dismissing patients' symptoms as imaginary, prescribing ineffective treatments, and even subjecting sufferers to ridicule and mockery. Consequently, delayed diagnoses and preventable tragedies ensue, perpetuating a cycle of suffering and despair.
Yet, amidst the darkness, a beacon of hope emerges. Through her resolute advocacy and unwavering determination, the protagonist endeavours to illuminate the shadows shrouding endometriosis. Her indomitable spirit serves as a rallying cry, compelling society to confront its collective ignorance and apathy. Thus, through her courageous crusade, she endeavours to sow the seeds of awareness and understanding, nurturing a brighter future for generations to come.

Path to the Zombie's Studio
NoorAl Kaabi
"This artwork captures the visceral experience of pain and delirium in the intensive care unit (ICU). A woman lies in her hospital bed, her skin flushed red, symbolizing agony the body’s distress under illness and medical intervention. Her hair transforms into a dense and tangled jungle — her mind is both sanctuary and a nightmare. Through this piece, I explore the delicate balance between alleviating suffering and the cognitive consequences of sedation. The question “What do I do for pain?” is not only personal but deeply ethical. Physicians are tasked with understanding the evolving landscape of pain management. Recent evidence favors multimodal pain relief strategies over excessive sedation to reduce ICU delirium and cognitive impairment. The historical reliance on benzodiazepines is waning, while non-pharmacologic interventions such as early mobility gain favour. This piece invites the viewer to step into this complex intersection of medicine, ethics, and human vulnerability—where every decision carries consequences, and relief is often inseparable from consequences.
Reilly Fitzgerald
Acryllic paints.
This is literally a painting of my shed/studio, where I have lived and created for over a decade, to shelter my family from my constant suffering. I chose a winter scene because, like winter, chronic pain is a form of death, where most aspects of living, important to one’s identity, are taken away; we become the living dead. A hint of this zombie appears in the studio window.
The path symbolises the difficulty of trudging through the snow-covered landscape of a life with pain.
Obscured and blocked by trees, branches, and the studio, the line joining earth and sky, important to the theme of “Shared Horizons” demonstrates that although we see the same horizon, one’s perspective may be obstructed. The scene is almost monochromatic and shadows cover most of the landscape, in an absence of variation, colour, and vitality, like a life drained by constant suffering. However, luminosity and occasional swaths of bright yellow symbolize hope on the horizon and throughout the landscape.
Possibly the most important feature of this creation isn’t obvious to the removed viewer. Like the pain that commands one’s body and similar to viewing a horizon from different perspectives, the things obstructing one person aren’t noticeable to others. This art which appears to be like any other painting, is warped. I stretched the canvas on a repurposed picture frame, usually decorative but now structural, and it twisted. The warped canvas, which I normally would discard, is utilised as a symbol for the hidden ailment of chronic pain.
To survive living with constant pain one has rethink what is available, like finding a purpose for my warped canvas, or on a larger scale, my personal ability to still paint and create so that I have a therapeutic release, a purpose, and a contribution to society.

The Agony of Burning Pain
NoorAl Kaabi
"This artwork captures the visceral experience of pain and delirium in the intensive care unit (ICU). A woman lies in her hospital bed, her skin flushed red, symbolizing agony the body’s distress under illness and medical intervention. Her hair transforms into a dense and tangled jungle — her mind is both sanctuary and a nightmare. Through this piece, I explore the delicate balance between alleviating suffering and the cognitive consequences of sedation. The question “What do I do for pain?” is not only personal but deeply ethical. Physicians are tasked with understanding the evolving landscape of pain management. Recent evidence favors multimodal pain relief strategies over excessive sedation to reduce ICU delirium and cognitive impairment. The historical reliance on benzodiazepines is waning, while non-pharmacologic interventions such as early mobility gain favour. This piece invites the viewer to step into this complex intersection of medicine, ethics, and human vulnerability—where every decision carries consequences, and relief is often inseparable from consequences.
Stevie-Stefano Foglia
This painting was painted in a more traditional way by building up layers of oil paints until the desired effect is achieved.
This painting is painted in oils on a linen canvas. It depicts a silhouette of a woman hunched over with her hand on her face in agony of the burning pain she is feeling represented by the flames coming off of her.

Never give up hope
NoorAl Kaabi
"This artwork captures the visceral experience of pain and delirium in the intensive care unit (ICU). A woman lies in her hospital bed, her skin flushed red, symbolizing agony the body’s distress under illness and medical intervention. Her hair transforms into a dense and tangled jungle — her mind is both sanctuary and a nightmare. Through this piece, I explore the delicate balance between alleviating suffering and the cognitive consequences of sedation. The question “What do I do for pain?” is not only personal but deeply ethical. Physicians are tasked with understanding the evolving landscape of pain management. Recent evidence favors multimodal pain relief strategies over excessive sedation to reduce ICU delirium and cognitive impairment. The historical reliance on benzodiazepines is waning, while non-pharmacologic interventions such as early mobility gain favour. This piece invites the viewer to step into this complex intersection of medicine, ethics, and human vulnerability—where every decision carries consequences, and relief is often inseparable from consequences.
Mael Gagnon Mailhot
Mixed medium, painting on watercolor paper.
The painting was done after I lost the ability to do everything I loved due to chronic pain. It was the first thing I created once I started to learn how to live with chronic pain.

Stressors and Saviours
NoorAl Kaabi
"This artwork captures the visceral experience of pain and delirium in the intensive care unit (ICU). A woman lies in her hospital bed, her skin flushed red, symbolizing agony the body’s distress under illness and medical intervention. Her hair transforms into a dense and tangled jungle — her mind is both sanctuary and a nightmare. Through this piece, I explore the delicate balance between alleviating suffering and the cognitive consequences of sedation. The question “What do I do for pain?” is not only personal but deeply ethical. Physicians are tasked with understanding the evolving landscape of pain management. Recent evidence favors multimodal pain relief strategies over excessive sedation to reduce ICU delirium and cognitive impairment. The historical reliance on benzodiazepines is waning, while non-pharmacologic interventions such as early mobility gain favour. This piece invites the viewer to step into this complex intersection of medicine, ethics, and human vulnerability—where every decision carries consequences, and relief is often inseparable from consequences.
Lisa Kimberly Glickman
Acrylic paints.
"Stressors and Saviours" is a symbolic portrayal of the intricate dance between anguish and solace, manifesting in a surrealistic image that mirrors the artist's inner turmoil and resilience. The canvas is a tapestry of contrasting elements.
On the left, the stressors emerge, looming ominously like dark clouds on the horizon. A spectral image of financial burdens casts a shadow, its tendrils reaching out like gnarled roots, ensnaring the mind in worry. Nearby, a swarm of carpenter ants and earwigs scuttle in chaotic patterns, representing the relentless intrusion of anxieties real and imagined, their presence magnified by the fear of impending collapse. Flames lick at the edges, a visual manifestation of the ever-present dread of house fires, their flickering tongues threatening to consume all in their path. Amidst this turmoil, the artist's twin daughters are depicted by their vulnerable state as they struggle with Celiac and Crohn's diseases. The artist’s shoulders bleed: this is the source, coming through her nerves in the back: acute brachial neuritis.
Contrasting this, the saviours emerge as beacons of hope. Things that bring the artist joy: animals, nature, children, reading, art-making. Offering solace. Lotus flowers represent the possibility of re-birth.
Through "Stressors and Saviours," the artist invites viewers to embark on a journey of introspection, navigating the turbulent seas of adversity while clinging steadfastly to the life rafts of joy and resilience. It is a poignant reminder that amidst life's storms, there is always beauty to be found, and strength to be drawn from the depths of the human spirit.

City of Hidden Stories
NoorAl Kaabi
"This artwork captures the visceral experience of pain and delirium in the intensive care unit (ICU). A woman lies in her hospital bed, her skin flushed red, symbolizing agony the body’s distress under illness and medical intervention. Her hair transforms into a dense and tangled jungle — her mind is both sanctuary and a nightmare. Through this piece, I explore the delicate balance between alleviating suffering and the cognitive consequences of sedation. The question “What do I do for pain?” is not only personal but deeply ethical. Physicians are tasked with understanding the evolving landscape of pain management. Recent evidence favors multimodal pain relief strategies over excessive sedation to reduce ICU delirium and cognitive impairment. The historical reliance on benzodiazepines is waning, while non-pharmacologic interventions such as early mobility gain favour. This piece invites the viewer to step into this complex intersection of medicine, ethics, and human vulnerability—where every decision carries consequences, and relief is often inseparable from consequences.
Yu Tong Huang
2D digital painting done on ProCreate.
My piece aims to visually portray multiple facets of the modern society for people living with chronic pain, who make up about 1/5th of the Canadian population. While chronic pain, and its resulting functional, social, and psychological burdens, weigh heavily on every aspect, every second, of their daily lives, it is often difficult to discern, when strolling in the city, those suffering from it. This is amplified by the isolation and facade many adopt to avoid judgement for being "dramatic" or "drug-seeking". The red hues represent the people living various chronic pain conditions, hidden within the crowd. This piece makes an attempt to represent certain groups, such as women, veterans, and elderly people, that are disproportionately affected by chronic pain conditions. Only with collective, multifaceted progress in areas such as education. stigma. healthcare, and research can our society hope to improve their quality of life and walk toward a brighter horizon.

Many Hands Make Light Work
NoorAl Kaabi
"This artwork captures the visceral experience of pain and delirium in the intensive care unit (ICU). A woman lies in her hospital bed, her skin flushed red, symbolizing agony the body’s distress under illness and medical intervention. Her hair transforms into a dense and tangled jungle — her mind is both sanctuary and a nightmare. Through this piece, I explore the delicate balance between alleviating suffering and the cognitive consequences of sedation. The question “What do I do for pain?” is not only personal but deeply ethical. Physicians are tasked with understanding the evolving landscape of pain management. Recent evidence favors multimodal pain relief strategies over excessive sedation to reduce ICU delirium and cognitive impairment. The historical reliance on benzodiazepines is waning, while non-pharmacologic interventions such as early mobility gain favour. This piece invites the viewer to step into this complex intersection of medicine, ethics, and human vulnerability—where every decision carries consequences, and relief is often inseparable from consequences.
Samantha Kelly
Graphite pencils on sketch paper.
This piece speaks to the hope for more team-based care in our health care system. In my journey with chronic pain, I have been carved into pieces by every medical and health professional I sought care from, particularly in those systems that limit your visit to a single inquiry for the allotted minutes of care.
Having to choose which parts of me got attention and which had to wait created this constant tug of war in my mind, forcing me to have to decide which parts felt the worst and deserved attention. When in reality, every piece of me needed to be assessed. And the most important part, the one that was never inquired about, but that required the most attention of all, was my mind.
Since finally acknowledging all of the pieces of me and advocating for whole-self care, I feel hope once more that I may find relief, or at least, acceptance, of a life with pain. The many hands in this piece are all of the practitioners from physical therapists, medical doctors, holistic healers, to trauma counsellors that have helped in my efforts to put the pieces of me back together.
I intentionally kept the piece as a black and white sketch to illustrate the simplicity of the concept of team-based care. There are some parts that will be simple to solve once the right hands and minds come together, and others that will require more investigations and care, but having the right hands involved and removing the barriers to accessing those hands is the action that will help us to move forward.
