A Story of Emotions

an art show where Bensliman advocates through her artistic journey for invisible illnesses:

Mental health like anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, as well as chronic diseases like migraines, fibromyalgia, interstitial cystitis, and invisible disabilities that cause chronic pain.

An invisible disability is classified as a physical, mental or neurological condition that is not visible from the outside yet can limit or challenge a person’s movement, senses, or activities. Unfortunately these conditions are misunderstood because of a lack of information and a lack of visible symptoms. Affected people generally, won’t talk about their daily challenges because talking about invisible illnesses is still taboo and they need to protect themselves.

As she struggles herself from chronic and invisible illness, her art plays a big role in her healing process. When she starts drawing or painting she enters into a trance that takes her deep into a world or cocoon that she creates for herself that gives her soothing waves and develops enchanting worlds. Each piece she creates would talk about how she feels at the moment. Whether it’s sadness, happiness, or pain, her work has been definitely her best coping tool.

She will also reveal in this show one of her biggest projects that she has been working on since 2015. Come discover a nine foot long artwork filled with intricate lines, vibrant colors, and details.

About Alia Bensliman

“All my drawings are full of symbols and meaning that explain my sentiments about milestones in my life, my past experiences and my everyday life.  I also try to express my views about current sociopolitical issues, health issues, religions and human rights.  But I also try to draw in a way that allows the viewers to interpret the pieces in their own way. The goal of my drawings is to intrigue, engage and provoke thought and reflection from the viewers. The intricate level of detail in each piece allows the viewer to discover more details and make new interpretations each time they view the piece.”

Experience

“I am also an art educator. I taught special needs children in Tunisia, my goal was to make them comfortable and communicate through art. In the US my teaching is focused on recycling materials. I taught at Greenwood Avenue Farmers Market, Boys and Girls Club in Trenton and Monmouth Museum. I currently teach at Artworks Trenton and Trenton City Museum at Ellarslie Mansion, I also belong to the Artworks Trenton Community Artist Board. I am an active volunteer member at Artworks Trenton and Trenton City Museum at Ellarslie Mansion. I co-owned a gallery in Lambertville New Jersey with a group of artists for a year. I curated shows and I was responsible for social media activities and advertisements.”