“A mandala, or “wheel of life” is used for ritual ceremonies.

It has a geometric pattern that’s depicting the cosmos.

A Mandala symbolizes the quest for inner peace and mental stability.

Medication is at odds with this idea.

the naive looks of this mandala shows how easily we ignore the fact that pills are not as innocent as they seem to be.”

This realism piece by Van Lieshout VI illustrates the often-confusing process of finding the right medication. The Mandala of Pills is a thought-provoking piece that is made up of medications for various mental illnesses. The piece is meant to bring to light the difficulties and confusion that can come from being on prescription medication. Often it takes years for people to find the right medication for them. In many cases, people go through multiple medicines before finding the most suitable one. The process is not a “one size fits all thing”, often medication that works for someone else, may not work for you. The process can frustrate and be confusing at times and this piece captures the journey that many people have taken.

Image credits:
Feature image: Myriam Zilles at Unsplash, Creative Commons
Body images: Van Lieshout VI  on Behance, used with artist’s permission