Catalan artist-researcher Laia Abril presents the latest chapter in her long-term investigation into the history of misogyny at LE BAL. Following her acclaimed projects On Abortion (2016) and On Rape (2020), On Mass Hysteria deepens her exploration of how collective bodily manifestations—historically labeled as “hysteria”—reflect systemic control over women’s bodies and serve as an unconscious form of resistance to oppressive systems. During her 2016 research in Nepal, Abril encountered a striking article in the Times of India titled “Girls struck by mass hysteria in a Nepalese school.” The report detailed an episode in which dozens of schoolgirls simultaneously lost consciousness without any identifiable organic cause. This intriguing account spurred Abril to delve into an extensive body of documentation that revealed similar manifestations dating back to the Middle Ages, setting the foundation for her current work.
The exhibition is a powerful visual and documentary exploration that spans centuries and continents. Evocative titles such as:

• “1628. Spain. 27 Nuns. Trance States, Screams, Obscene Behavior”
• “1692. Salem, North America. Witch Hunt. Trance Epidemic”
• “2015. Botswana. 133 Schoolgirls. Uncontrollable Movements and Laughter”

adorn the walls at LE BAL, illustrating the striking similarities in experiences among tightly knit communities of women who, under extreme stress or oppression, exhibit sudden and collective physical symptoms.

Working in collaboration with anthropologists, sociologists, neurologists, and psychiatrists, Abril focuses on three pivotal case studies to unravel the origins of these crises:

• Case Study 1 (2007, Chalco, Mexico): An outbreak of collective leg paralysis in a Catholic girls’ boarding school.
• Case Study 2 (2012–2022, Cambodia): A series of fainting epidemics among textile workers in garment factories.
• Case Study 3 (2012, Le Roy, New York, USA): An epidemic of unexplained nervous tics in a high school, notable as the first instance where social media played an amplifying role.

For each case, Abril gives voice to the affected women through evocative imagery and personal narratives, challenging conventional responses by medicine, the press, and authorities that have often dismissed these crises as mere exaggerations or even signs of possession. Using a dialogue between archives, testimonies, and multimedia installations, Abril makes visible the underlying causes behind these collective manifestations. Her approach goes beyond documenting symptoms; it seeks to understand the root social and cultural dynamics at play. By engaging with theories such as anthropologist Aihwa Ong’s concept of a “protolanguage of protest,” Abril interprets these psychosomatic crises as expressions of distress and resistance against harsh working conditions, systemic silencing, and male-dominated power structures.
On Mass Hysteria is not only a theoretical reflection but also a sensory and emotional journey. Through videos, audio narratives, archival documents, and live performances, the exhibition invites visitors to engage in a broader dialogue about the historical condition of women and the societal responses to deviations from accepted norms. The program, which includes debates and presentations, is complemented by an all-female 2025 schedule that reinforces the exhibition’s commitment to celebrating women’s voices and experiences.
On Mass Hysteria is co-produced by LE BAL, Photo Elysée, The Finnish Museum of Photography, and Galerie Les filles du calvaire, and is supported by Women In Motion—a Kering initiative celebrating women in the arts and culture. Additional support is provided by the City of Paris, the Île-de-France Region, and the Ministry of Culture.

About the Author

Laia Abril (1986) is a research-based artist working across photography, text, video, and sound, focusing on biopolitics and gender issues. Her work is rooted in a politically engaged, process-driven methodology that employs strategies of forensic aesthetics and counter-narratives, interrogating dominant histories and the politics of representation.
Her work has been exhibited in over 25 countries and is held in collections such as Centre Pompidou, Photo Elysée, Fotomuseum Winterthur, MACBA, Reina Sofía MNAC, and the V&A Museum. She has authored acclaimed books, including The Epilogue, Lobismuller, and the A History of Misogyny series: On Abortion, On Rape, and On Mass Hysteria.
She has received the Foam Paul Huf Award (Amsterdam), RPS Hood Medal (London), Aperture Best Book Award (NY/Paris), and Spain’s National Photography Award. Based in Switzerland, she is a senior lecturer at HSLU and is represented by Les Filles du Calvaire in Paris and Set Espai d’Art in Spain.

Laia Abril – On Mass Hysteria: A History of Misogyny
January 17 – May 18, 2025
Le Bal – Paris – France