Let the Mask Fall by Anusha Dabak

This piece explores the idea of “taking off the mask” in a patient care setting. I took inspiration for the mask from the famous musical, The Phantom of the Opera, as the lead, Erik, wears a mask to hide his disfigured face underneath out of fear of vulnerability. Thus, the mask I painted is meant to be reminiscent of a theatrically styled mask and has a very posed smile, representing feigned happiness. The mask is interwoven with yellow neurons that are “pulling it off” to reveal the true face of the woman, the patient, to show her real pain and fear. The neurons are meant to represent the connection between a patient and physician, and the swirled pattern in the background takes inspiration from brain slice imaging in a lab. The colors in the background also transition from dark on the left side to light on the right side to represent how freeing it can feel to take the mask off. While medical knowledge and extensive training are incredibly important for becoming a great physician, compassion and empathy are just as important. When a patient is seen as a person and another human being rather than a list of symptoms, a true connection can be formed. While we may feel the need to put up a mask in our everyday lives, at the very least in a physician’s office, we should feel comfortable enough to let the mask fall.