The (In)conspicuous Body: Perceiving and Visually Representing Physical Sensations: A Visual Essay.

This article presents an artistic investigation into the visual representation of physical sensations caused by nervous disorders, focusing on the challenges of depicting subjective, often invisible bodily experiences. Using graphite drawings, the author explores phenomena such as paraesthesiae—sensory disturbances common in conditions like multiple sclerosis—highlighting the tension between real sensations and their illusory or immaterial qualities. The work introduces the concept of the “inconspicuous” body, referring to body parts not currently affected by sensory anomalies, and discusses how drawing these sensations externalizes and transforms them into perceivable forms. The study emphasizes the complexity of conveying lived bodily experience through visual means, proposing that such representations serve both as personal introspection and as a communicative stimulus for others affected by similar conditions.