Expressing her own inner sense of how much sounds can be multiplied and intensified in her head, the 45 years old artist, Shohreh Pakdaman, illustrate in her painting a boundary between her safe zone and the intolerable which is “the edge of silence”.
The Sound Off art competition is a part of Hashir International Institute’s Public Involvement programme. Our Public Involvement programme comprises several initiatives: (1) Raising awareness projects, (2) Become a Solver, (3) Competitions and Prizes, and (4) Action Research. The Sound Off art competition in 2024 was organised in collaboration with the World Hearing Centre and the Institute of Physiology and Pathology of Hearing and the Institute of Sensory Organs and was sponsored by MED-EL. The aim of the Sound Off was to raise awareness about misophonia, tinnitus and hyperacusis. Artists from different countries took part in the competition by submitting their pieces of artwork that demonstrated the experience of living with misophonia, hyperacusis or tinnitus. In this section we showcase each artwork, description of the artwork, motivations/inspirations of the artist, and artist’s personal relationship to misophonia, hyperacusis or tinnitus.
Artist’s Name: Shohreh Pakdaman
Age: 45
Country of residence: Iran
Name of artwork: The edge of silence
Explanation or description of the artwork. What inspired the work and what it means to the artist.
I started out with a simple sketch based on my own inner sense of how much sounds can be multiplied and intensified in my head. There is a boundary between my safe zone and the intolerable which is “the edge of silence”.
I cannot tolerate the busy places and noisy environments. My vision, my taste, and my awareness will be affected by noise, and I get angry. In this effect, the cage is to convey my sense of limitation, the boundary, the edge. I have illustrated the loudness of sounds with the figures of many ear lobes in my head. Each ear added is a representation of the sounds being perceived louder (e.g., 10 ears means that I hear 10 times louder). When I feel my anger, I tend to think about things which bring me peace. This may help me to control my anger from all that noise. The flower is a symbol of peace. It is alive and beautiful and makes me feel calm and they are not harmful. I wanted to use butterflies in my painting too because of the softness of butterfly fluttering is the most beautiful movement for me. However, I felt, the butterfly may not show my true inner sense in this picture. I have inspired by a Persian poet (Rahi), who says; The ear that has heard lots of advice become reluctant to hear more.
Artist’s personal relationship to misophonia, hyperacusis or tinnitus.
I have hyperacusis.
