Susan Palmer-Ward has deliberately shown two self-portrait images. One before her brain tumour operation and the other as a smaller image on a ‘holy card’ as she is now. In the pattern on the jar Palmer-Ward has included some x-ray images of her brain tumour. 

Palmer-Ward is dressed in the style of a ‘monjas coronadas’ (a type of Mexican nun) wearing the elaborate floral crown which is the honorary sign of expressing victory. Palmer-Ward’s work is influenced by Frida Kahlo and the attitude she brought to her life time of pain and suffering. Palmer-Ward chose the bright yellow background because as in Frida’s words “Yellow is the colour of madness, sickness and fear” all of which she has felt  in her long journey after the operation.