Exploring Suffering Through Art: Sharon Webber-Zvik's Award-Winning Project

Unveiling the symbiotic relationship between pain and the sufferer in a groundbreaking design project

Webber-Zvik's project, titled "Pain and Suffering," is a research branding endeavor that was inspired by her fascination with how artists approach science. She was particularly intrigued by the detailed study of the human body through drawing and engravings during Leonardo De Vinci's time. The captured facial expressions in those sketches, combined with her personal envisioning of what the subjects experienced in their last seconds before passing away, inspired her to conduct her own exploration on the fine line between art and science.

What sets this design apart is its unique approach to the subject matter. Webber-Zvik chose to humanize suffering and pain, exploring it from various angles: philosophical, social, medical, and scientific. She created characters that visually represent the symbiotic relations between suffer and the sufferer and between pain and the one in pain, turning the viewer into the subject of this experiment.

The design process involved a combination of techniques. Webber-Zvik collected various materials, some from image banks which she manipulated to suit her needs, and some she drew by hand. The balance between the purchased and the original creations was shaped in the process as the visuals from her mind and soul came to life. The design was eventually finalized on her MAC using Adobe Photoshop.

The project was made public in November 2012, but the art related to it continues. It started with an understanding of what it means to suffer, what pain is, and which kind of pain leads to suffering. Webber-Zvik's research took her to the streets, where she found inspiration in the clear and substantial pain of homeless people. The symbiosis between the person in pain and the pain itself became clear to her, leading to a change in her perception of life.

Webber-Zvik's project was not without its challenges. Due to the complexity of the subject and the emotional nature of her research, she had to remain objective and avoid being led to one form of pain. Despite these challenges, her art evolved along with the research, making the project unforgettable to viewers.

This design project was awarded the Golden A' Graphics, Illustration and Visual Communication Design Award in 2013. The award is granted to marvelous, outstanding, and trendsetting creations that reflect the designer's prodigy and wisdom. They are venerated products and bright ideas that advance art, science, design, and technology, embodying extraordinary excellence and significantly impacting the world with their desirable characteristics.