For many, hidden illness and disability are something we carry silently, with little visible to those around us at a surface level. Chronic forms a visual manifestation for the unseen, giving shape to the unspoken tribulations a life with chronic illness can ensue.

The works form a collective narrative surrounding the symptoms so many navigate daily as well as an introspective web of experiences and memories. Textures echo sensations of pain and landscapes distil feelings of isolation into churning skies. Here, a quiet war is given a microphone. The gates are open, and the body’s silent rebellion is exposed. While a person’s shell may remain solid, you may never be able to truly see the cracks forming inside.

In exposing these fragments of a disjointed experience, Julia offers a glimpse into the resilience required to navigate a life with such invisible experiences and invites you to look past the facade of a smile.