Heartbreak is a deep state of sadness, pain, and loss; an experience shared across cultures and languages, yet one that people often struggle to confront and define. ‘Anatomy of Heartbreaks’ is an evolving installation and emotional literacy tool that explores grief, inviting reflection through embodied forms and the language used to describe the emotional experience. It creates a space where heartbreak can be collectively explored and held.
Drawing on participatory research, psychology and art therapy, the work gathers stories and words collected from participants of diverse social and cultural backgrounds. The resulting archive forms an emotional landscape that reflects on both the universal and relatable nature of grief, as well as the ways language can shape emotional experience and understanding.
Participants’ heartbreaks were materialized through ceramic pieces that embody their grief. Working with clay provides a way to explore these complex emotions beyond the constraints of verbal language. Displayed together, the ceramic pieces create a collective space for mourning and reflection, challenging the sense of isolation that heartbreak often produces.
A second component of the installation presents different types of heartbreaks and the words participants use to describe emotions related to them. Deconstructing different sensations and reasons behind the pain that is being felt. Spanning twelve languages, this linguistic archive offers insights into how heartbreak is approached across cultures, while allowing viewers to encounter emotions they may recognize but lack words for in their own tongues.
