Nina Luna, Breast cancer survivor. Photo courtesy of Culturally Arts Collective

The heartbreaking yet inspirational story of how Nina Luna used art to overcome breast cancer is a testament to the healing power of creativity and resilience.

BY KAZEEM ADELEKE, ARTCENTRON

In October 2011, Nina Luna was immersed in the joys of life, eagerly planning her future and looking forward to the upcoming holiday season. However, her world was shattered when she received the devastating news: “You have breast cancer.” To confront this diagnosis, she underwent a double mastectomy. Like Angelina Jolie, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Christina Applegate, and Sharon Osbourne, who got similar diagnoses, Nina knew mastectomy was the best option.

In her journey toward healing after the loss of her breasts, Nina turned to painting. Despite having a talent for drawing, she had never explored it as an art form. She did not take it seriously until she began using paint. Soon, painting became a sanctuary. This was where she could escape the pain and find solace, tranquility, and liberation from her harsh reality of breast cancer.

Recently, some of Nina’s paintings were on display at the Miłostka Center for Exhibitions in the exhibition Paint the Pain Away. Her artworks feature the female torso as the primary subject. Despite never previously viewing the female body as beautiful, her paintings offered her a fresh perspective. Painting the female form enabled her to embrace her womanhood, realizing that she is just as beautiful now as she was before her mastectomy.

Nina Luna: A Fresh Look at the Female Body

In Ziegfeld Girls, the artist utilizes gold, blue, red, and purple to beautify a female torso. She reveals the internal and external beauty by superimposing the clavicals and spine over the external forms. Within the fiberglass painting are female dancing figures wearing mini dresses that show their elongated legs. Together, they that draw the eyes to the breasts, which are simultaneously present and absent.

The painting’s title refers to showgirls who epitomized desire, embodying beauty, grace, and charm. These women, including actresses, singers, and dancers, were in Florenz Ziegfeld’s extravagant Broadway revues known as the Ziegfeld Follies. The show ran in New York City from 1907 to 1931. To become a Ziegfeld Girl, a woman needed to be beautiful, have grace, and have the ability to sing and dance. These qualities ensured their performances were mesmerizing. However, one might wonder if these women would have been considered beautiful or part of this group after undergoing a double mastectomy. While the Ziegfeld Follies celebrated femininity, talent, and beauty, they also embraced eroticism.

Bon Appetit, another fiberglass painting, presents viewers with a delectable meal featuring cookies, chicken, steak, pears, and strawberries. Two tall wine glasses stand on each end of the dish, reaching upwards towards the chest area. Enhancing the composition are motifs of lines, dots, and captivating designs that also accentuate the wine glasses. The placement of the wine glasses, which also serve as support for the breasts, adds a new layer of meaning to the title, Bon Appetit.

Battle With Cancer

Each piece in Paint the Pain Away narrates Nina’s mental state during her battle with cancer. They reveal her journey, and her growth as a woman, survivor, and artist. As a result of her focus, dedication, and will to survive adversity, Nina is today an international artist. She has numerous publications, and her paintings have been in several exhibitions.

Nina Luna has been in remission since February 2014. If you were to ask her how she survived her battle with cancer, she might say that she doesn’t recall much of it. For her, this is a blessing. She likened her experience with cancer to “going through a wormhole, shooting out the other side, and wondering what the heck happened.”

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Despite being a two-time breast cancer survivor, Nina remains hopeful and ambitious. Painting the female body helped her appreciate her womanhood. There is the realization that even after a double mastectomy, she is still beautiful. Through her art, she shares her story and gives strength, hope, and belief to other women facing similar challenges. Her paintings reflect her mental state during her battle with cancer, her journey, and her personal growth. Above all, they serve as a beacon of hope.

Breast Cancer Survivor: Finding Hope in Art

Curated by Kimberly Fabbri, Paint the Pain Away is a poignant reminder that art can be transformative. Nina Luna’s breast cancer journey and subsequent healing process through art exemplify the positive power of creativity and resilience. Her paintings in Paint the Pain Away depict her personal experience and also serve as a source of strength and inspiration for others. In art, Nina Luna has found beauty, strength, and a new sense of self. Her recovery proves that adversity can be overcome with courage and creativity. Without a doubt, her story is a testament to the human spirit’s ability to triumph over affliction and hardship.