Art writing: “Mimei-Phobia (a diagnosis letter)”
2024
Written for the exhibition “Are We There Yet?” at the Peckham Arches (12-19th April 2024). Printed in the exhibition pamphlet (A4 size, riso-printed in black ink on sugar paper).
The printed copies are no longer available. Read full text below
April 6th, 2024
To: __________________
From: Yuna Goda
Re:__________________
DOB:__________________
Dear Mx./ Ms./ Mr.
I am Yuna Goda, the psychoanalyst and life-facilitator of Yuna Goda.
This letter confirms Yuna’s various conditions and clarifies the symptoms. Please read this like a doctor’s diagnosis letter.
For Yuna, a diagnosis letter is an official document that confirms and explains the condition of a patient, but also permission to malfunction. Yuna’s first medical diagnosis letter confirmed her symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). The letter permitted her to suddenly leave her seat at school, to occupy toilet cubicles, and to smell like deodorant— without explaining each time. However, a diagnosis letter does not really offer solutions. It may explain about medical prescriptions, but other institutions and organizations are left to adjust the environment accordingly for the patient to live happily. In Yuna’s case of IBS, it was her high school’s role to arrange her seats to be wherever closest to the toilet, and amend her class records.
Please find below are two of Yuna’s recently discovered phobias:
Mimei-phobia (未明恐怖症 / 未名恐怖症)
The combined fear of something not being clear yet（未明 Mimei）, and also not named yet（未名 Mimei）. In Yuna’s case, the fear is usually directed towards emotions of anxiety, which she feels insecure sharing, or previously experienced being denied existence. Yuna has been spotted inventing names for non-existing phobias, but this is not due to hallucination, but the nature of her coping mechanism. It is not a harmful act, in fact, entertaining.
Ie-phobia（イエ恐怖症）
The combined fear of being sent home（家 Ie）, but also the concept of “home” （イエ Ie）itself. She experiences stronger Ie-phobic reactions when confronting the phrases “home country” or “home town”, but speaks and writes about it frequently, as it is a long-term attempt to overcome this fear. However, this is a highly energy-consuming action; therefore requires an equal amount of treatment through pleasant food or drinks after. It is only currently endurable because her IBS symptoms have ceased within the last five years, and therefore she does not need to avoid eating. If eating becomes difficult, or her IBS intensifies, she must temporarily stop.
[*note: Yuna does not like how the term “Ie” sounds festive, like “yey”, or the colloquial term of approval, “yeh”, therefore is considering renaming this phobia.]
This letter does not necessarily demand attention for an urgent situation, but justifies the need to adjust Yuna’s living environment accordingly. Moreover, the letter itself provides space for the honest and first hand fear to exist.
Please feel free to contact me if you require additional information or explanation on the conditions.
Sincerely,
Yuna Goda