War And Trauma exhibition in Guislainmuseum Ghent

During World War I many soldiers fell victim to bizarre, anxious and disturbed behaviour, which was referred to as ‘shellshock’. The army commanders faced a dilemma: were they really traumatised or were they simply cowards who were trying to stay away from the extremely terrifying front? Should they be evacuated or sent back? And what was the best way to treat shellshock? The exhibitionSoldiers and psychiatrists 1914-2014 explores the focus on and dealings with mental suffering during the Great War, but also focuses on more recent conflicts of the past century. How do psychiatrists currently deal with soldiers with posttraumatic stress syndrome? Is there more understanding? And how do reporters and war photographers view acts of war and mental suffering?
Soldiers and psychiatrists portrays the mental consequences of warfare: from the first photos of shellshock and contemporary war photography to drawings of killed psychiatric patients during WWII. But war is sometimes very close: victims of rape and abuse suffer the same symptoms of PTSS. Soldiers and psychiatrists shows the evolution of the concept of trauma: from shellshock to posttraumatic stress syndrome, from 1914 to 2014. (from the site museum dr. Guislain)

In this exhibition there is one work you can see from me: 'Nursing Corps', with 5 backs of women and girls lying on the floor. This 'army' will grow stronger, as more backs will be made soon. My goal is to have a real 'corps' of at least more then 20 backs. 

www.focus http://www.museumdrguislain.be/en/tentoonstellingen1/353-war