Artist Creates Portraits Under Influence Of LSD During Research, And They Are Strange Window Into Human Mind

Read more about the Project MKUltra

Damjan

• Published in Interesting
• April 10, 2024

During the 1950s, the United States government delved into a controversial realm of experimentation involving psychedelic drugs, notably LSD. Among these undertakings, Project MKUltra stands out as a prominent, albeit notorious, initiative.

Spearheaded by the Scientific Intelligence Division of the CIA, MKUltra sought to develop drugs and techniques capable of inducing mind control, with the ultimate goal of extracting confessions from individuals through psychological manipulation.

One of the most alarming aspects of MKUltra was the administration of LSD to unwitting subjects. These subjects included mental patients, prisoners, drug addicts, and prostitutes, all of whom were subjected to the effects of the drug without their informed consent.

The rationale behind such experiments was to observe and analyze their reactions, thereby furthering the understanding of LSD's potential applications in interrogation and mind control.

However, amidst the shadows of Project MKUltra, another lesser-known experiment took place during the same era. Unlike the clandestine nature of MKUltra, this experiment involved an artist who was knowingly administered LSD and then asked to depict his experiences through art.

Provided with an assortment of crayons and pencils, the artist embarked on a journey to visually articulate the profound alterations in his perception of reality induced by the psychedelic substance.

The resultant series of drawings offers a fascinating glimpse into the mind of an individual under the influence of LSD. Each sketch serves as a testament to the profound and often surreal nature of the artist's altered state of consciousness.

From vibrant explosions of color to distorted depictions of familiar objects, the drawings encapsulate the kaleidoscopic array of sensations experienced by the artist during his psychedelic journey.

What emerges from this series of drawings is a poignant reflection on the profound impact of LSD on the human psyche. Through the artist's brushstrokes, we are invited to peer into the abyss of altered consciousness, where perceptions warp and distort in ways both mesmerizing and unsettling.

“First drawing is done 20 minutes after the first dose (50ug).”

“An attending doctor observes – Patient chooses to start drawing with charcoal. The subject of the experiment reports – ‘Condition normal…no effect from the drug yet.'”

“85 minutes after the first dose and 20 minutes after a second dose has been administered (50ug +50ug).”

“The patient seems euphoric. ‘I can see you all clearly, so clearly. This…you…it’s all…I’m having a little trouble controlling this pencil. It seems to want to keep going.'”

“2 hours and 30 minutes after the first dose.”

“Patient appears very focused on the business of drawing. ‘Outlines seem normal, but very vivid — everything is changing colour. My hand must follow the bold sweep of the lines. I feel as if my consciousness is situated in the part of my body that’s now active — my hand, my elbow…my tongue.'”

“2 hours and 32 minutes after first dose.”

“Patient seems gripped by his pad of paper. ‘I’m trying another drawing. The outlines of the model are normal, but now those of my drawing are not. The outline of my hand is going weird, too. It’s not a very good drawing, it is? I give — I’ll try again…'”

“2 hours and 35 minutes after first dose.”

“Patient follows quickly with another drawing. ‘I’ll do a drawing in one flourish…without stopping…one line, no break!’ Upon completing the drawing, the patient starts laughing, then becomes startled by something on the floor.”

“2 hours and 45 minutes after first dose.”

“Patient tries to climb into activity box, and is generally agitated — responds slowly to the suggestion he might like to draw some more. He has become largely non-verbal. ‘I am…everything is…changed…they’re calling…your face…interwoven…who is…’ Patient mumbles inaudibly to a tune (sounds like ‘Thanks for the Memory’). He changes medium to Tempera.'”

“4 hours and 25 minutes after first dose.”

“Patient retreated to the bunk, spending approximately 2 hours lying, waving his hands in the air. His return to the activity box is sudden and deliberate, changing media to pen and water colour. ‘This will be the best drawing, like the first one, only better. If I’m not careful, I’ll lose control of my movements, but I won’t, because I know. I know.’ (This saying is then repeated many times.) Patient makes the last half-a-dozen strokes of the drawing while running back and forth across the room.”

“5 hours and 45 minutes after the first dose.”

“Patient continues to move about the room, intersecting the space in complex variations. It’s an hour and a half before he settles down to draw again — he appears over the effects of the drug. ‘I can feel my knees again, I think it’s starting to wear off. This is a pretty good drawing — this pencil is mighty hard to hold.’ (He is holding a crayon.)”

“8 hours after first dose.”

“Patient sits on bunk bed. He reports the intoxication has worn off, except for the occasional distorting of our faces. We ask for a final drawing, which he performs with little enthusiasm. ‘I have nothing to say about this last drawing. It is bad and uninteresting. I want to go home now.'”

Even though Project MKUltra is well-known for its experiments with LSD, it's crucial to remember that many other tests were happening at the same time. The drawings made by the artist while on LSD give us a special glimpse into what it's like to be in a different state of mind.

They make us think about how we perceive things and why people are fascinated by psychedelic drugs.

Damjan