On Mass Hysteria

In 'On Mass Hysteria', the genesis chapter of 'A History of Misogyny', Laia Abril visualises the historical and contemporary societal interpretations of outbreaks termed as 'mass hysteria', which are potentially cases of mass psychogenic illness - functional neurological disorders. Abril gives form to an anthropological theory viewing these psychosomatic outbreaks as a female proto-language of protest, triggered by oppressive systems, collective pain, and transgenerational trauma. Abril interrogates Western society's views, including medical and academic analyses, that overlook female suffering, hypermedicalise women, and neglect alternative explanations from spiritual and Indigenous beliefs. The project seeks to redirect the narrative away from victim-blaming towards a critical examination of the role of societal and political oppression in manifesting collective illness. Laia Abril focusses on long-term projects on uneasy and hidden realities about women rights, grief and biopolitics. Author of several award winning books including The Epilogue, On Abortion and On Rape, she was a finalist for the Deutsche Borse Prize and winner of the Aperture-Paris Photo Book Award. She has exhibited in over 15 countries and her work is in major collections worldwide. She has received the Prix de la Photo, the RPS Hood Medal, RPS Honorary Fellowship, the FOAM Paul Huff Award and the Spanish National Award.