I have gotten used to speaking in fragments because that is how I receive information - Cecilie Penney

”I have gotten used to speaking in fragments because that is how I receive information” is a collection of texts and material based on conversations between Cecilie Penney and three of her friends who all have experiences as patients in different departments of the Danish healthcare system. The book consists of fragments that portray encounters with therapists, forms, and treatment plans from the patient’s perspective. It explores society’s perception of illness and what it means to conform to or fail within the current system.

The book is a continuation of Penney’s graduation work from the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, I don’t understand the words you use (2024). The work is a 3D animation inspired by the genre of platform games, depicting a character’s attempt to seek help within the healthcare system.

Cecilie Penney (b. 1990) is a visual artist and composer who works with digital media, video, sound, text, and installation. Her practice examines collective expressions of care and societal trends, focusing on how emotions and empathy are conveyed within structural, linguistic, and technological systems. Her works draw on a (post)digital aesthetic, where the limitations of technology serve as reminders of the human presence—one that cannot or refuses to conform to the dominant order. Cecilie Penney holds a MFA in Visual Arts from the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts and a BFA in Fine Art Photography from HDK-Valand (Gothenburg).