Printer-friendly versionWords and images instead of blood or a bruise are used to express thoughts and feelings here. The pen is the tool for expression, opposed to a razor or a fist.
Creative works, ranging from poetry to art to prose, have been used as a mode of release for centuries by many. Individuals who self-injure have come up with a different form of release - harming their own body. Creative works are a wonderful alternative and they can help provide relief from intense emotions and help get out difficult thoughts and feelings. And the sharing of these works can be a help to the reader as well, in knowing they are not alone and in finding their feelings put down into words by another. I can not count the times that I have read a piece of poetry or a bit of prose and felt the shock of seeing my thoughts and feelings summed up and expressed.
The individuals here have given me permission to post their creative works. I do hope you enjoy reading their pieces and viewing their artwork as much as I have. Much of it is moving and expresses a large range of emotions, ideas and thoughts about self-injury and related subjects. Be warned to consider any and all of the creative works potentially triggering.
History
The 'Gallery of Pain' began as a small poetry page in the 'Do You SI?' section of the site in 1998. I did not have any submissions at first and had to seek out writers for pieces of poetry. Then, as the site grew, there was a huge growth in submissions and I opened up the 'Gallery of Pain,' which accepted art, fictional stories, personal stories and other submissions in addition to poetry, in 2000. Then the site changed servers during the middle of 2001 and the 'Gallery of Pain' remained static until the beginning of 2002.
For years after I used a custom-made script but after the change to a CMS in 2009 the Gallery of Pain finally has automated submissions.
It was also revamped and renamed.
