History Refracted delves into the intricate interplay between my journey with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and their profound impact on my recollection of my time deployed in Afghanistan's Helmand Province. Everyday sights that may appear benign hold power to refract and illuminate fragments of past experiences, drawing forth vivid memories and frozen frames captured during my deployment. These memories exist as abstract entities within the recesses of my mind, prompting me to manifest real moments in time that I can revisit and re-engage with. Through repeated use of these images, a tertiary viewing emerges as I confront and grapple with the memories they encapsulate.

 

This process becomes both a blessing and a curse as my fragmented memory struggles to piece together the narrative of my time in service. Through History Refracted, I seek to unravel and confront the intricate web of memories, trauma, and personal identity shaped by my military experiences.