Analysis Of Ptsd By Ruth Cuthand

PTSD, created by Ruth Cuthand, is an 11 ¼” x 11 ¼” beaded MRI scan, one of six works belonging to her Brain Scan Series (Figure 1). Born of Plains Cree, Scottish, and Irish ancestry, Cuthand is a mixed media artist whose artwork explores social, political, and physical issues pertinent to Indigenous peoples in a postcolonial society. Her contemporary work challenges mainstream perspectives—each piece of her Brain Scan Series is a dichotomy for viewers between aesthetic and subject matter. Confronting the long-term impacts of colonialism, Cuthand uses beadwork to address Indigenous mental illness in a palatable way for viewers; her piece ADHD is both vibrant and alluring to amplify the topic. Focusing on Cuthand’s use of medium, colour, and

Although craft was an integral component of life for many Indigenous women, beadwork and the use of glass beads ceased to exist in Canada prior to the introduction of European trade. Following the arrival of settlers and tradesmen, beadwork was adopted by various Indigenous communities: cultural change brought on by this European influence. The rise of intercontinental trade, however, brought many consequences to these communities as the exchange of goods was accompanied by foreign diseases and ideologies—altering the lives of Indigenous people indefinitely. Cuthand’s deliberate use of beadwork to create her Brain Scan Series acts as a microcosm for all that was brought through trade. The beads woven together embody the intergenerational legacy of colonialism; glass beads once indicative of cultural exchange are now used to depict contemporary issues like mental illness brought on by this exchange. Intertwining the struggles of the past and present, PTSD explores the impacts of trauma on Indigenous peoples as Cutland’s artwork showcases the influences of colonialism as it continues to prosper in a contemporary

The brain sequence featured in PTSD incorporates bilateral symmetry and a curving, organic form; it mirrors what a medical MRI would look like. As medical imaging is exclusive to our contemporary society, Cuthand's usage of traditional beadwork technique through this context, blurs temporal boundaries. The contours of the beaded brain scan not only mirror physical reality, but also the emotional and psychological landscapes that Indigenous individuals navigate in a society shaped by colonialism. This serves as a visual representation of the multifaceted layers that shape Indigenous experiences, viewers understanding the continuity of trauma through the fusion of modern imagery and culturally significant craftwork. The brain's organic form thus becomes a focal point—the past and present intersecting as contemporary challenges amongst Indigenous communities exist because of their history with colonisation. Through her use of form amongst other formal elements, viewers are compelled to contemplate the intricate threads that bind history, culture, and mental well-being. Manipulating form through a traditional medium acts as an intergenerational bridge; it invites viewers to explore temporal boundaries as Indigenous people continue to suffer the consequences of