The soft blue thermoplastic feels warm as it’s stretched against my head. We’re in the process of creating my radiation mask, molding it to the exact contours of my face to better protect me during radiation therapy. For the next 15 days, the custom mask is bolted down to the table with me inside it, the plastic shell keeping me completely immobilized as a machine delivers beams of radiation to the granuloma behind my eye. Trapped within the mask, I try my hardest not to panic. When the radiation runs its course, I receive a certificate signed by the entire therapy team, along with my big, blue mask. I let it haunt my coffee table for a while, until my mom finally yells at me to hide it in a drawer.
“It’s possible to find beauty even in the darkest moments.”
For those dealing with cancer and other illnesses, radiation masks are a common part of the experience, often serving as one of the most physical relics of the journey. Some burn their masks (and I don’t blame them). Others decide to turn them into art.
Transforming a tangible reminder of illness and pain feels differently for everyone. The artists below describe the process as everything from cathartic to heartbreaking. Many use their own masks as their medium, tired of letting them rot in a dark corner. Others decorate donated masks as an act of service for strangers and loved ones alike. From the original plastic armor blooms roses, lotus blossoms, and colorful landscapes. A previously clinical tool reimagined by semi-precious stones, fantastic colors, and a very human touch.
When I set out to write this story, I didn’t think I’d ever own any radiation mask art myself. I’ve never been so happy to be proven wrong. In the end, my mask was painted by a radiation therapist included in this story. I display it proudly as a testament to everything I’ve been through – a reminder that, while the grief never really leaves, it’s possible to find beauty even in the darkest moments. Read on to see how six artists found it in their own ways, allowing them to grieve, heal, and create more light.
