Personal Project
Illustration: Hanahaki Disease

This project in particular has a lot of research put into it. I am very interested in fictional diseases and how they can be illustrated. Though they aren't real, they have a lot of parallels to real physical and mental illnesses.

Hanahaki disease causes individuals to cough up flower petals and grow plants in their lungs. The reason this happens is because they have unrequited feelings. The only cure is having their lovers return their feelings. The flowers and plants can vary from person to person and represent an emotion. In the language of flowers, Chrysanthemums can mean joy, optimism, and loyalty.

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Fairy circles are another interesting mythological occurrence. Mushrooms will sometimes grow in a circular shape when they are eating rotting trunks or wood. In mythology, when you step into the rings, you can become trapped. Some people like to leave offerings for the fairies and others believe that they are an indication of a buried body.