The Uninvited Guest

A series of works that consider the impact of neurological diseases and how they change memories and the lives of those around the person. Neurological diseases are often hard to diagnose and can start with a period of medical elimination. When there are cognitive changes it is often a friend or relative that might notice anomalies but sometimes everyone can be in denial.

  • a ceramic object is covered in bubbles with frayed sharp edges

    Pathosis

    A diseased state; an abnormal condition.

    From the outside there is beauty and if you chose not to look further this might be all that you notice. On closer inspection it appears that something is changing, full of decay and almost at the point of no return.

    Ceramic

  • Pathosis

  • Grey Matter

    Grey matter gets its grey tone from a high concentration of neurons. Grey matter in the central nervous system is what enables us to control movement, memory and emotions. Medical problems occur when plaque begins to build up in areas of grey matter.

    Undoubtedly there was plaque build up. She was in denial and many didn’t notice.

    Ceramic sculpture

  • Grey Matter

  • found natural materials from nature and shown in a vintage box combined with made porcelain pieces. Red thread and metal wire connect the pieces.

    Skewed Realities

    As her cognition deteriorates the memories change and her versions of the truth are a muddle of real and altered memories

    Unless you were there, how can we tell what is fact and what is fiction?

    Vintage box, porcelain objects, found natural elements, wire, thread, card

  • Memento Mori

    Recent works explore autoethnographic experiences of navigating a neurological terminal illness, being a family caregiver & the subsequent journey through the roller coaster of grief. My mother spent the last 2 years of her life unable to walk & telling me most days that she just wanted to die.

    Memento mori - we all must die - uses dead flowers gathered from the South West Coast path - the last place I’d walked with my mother & where her ashes were latter scattered.

    Cyanotype

  • Lesion

    If only the signs of disease could be physically seen from the outside like in this piece. The sculpture is designed to be picked up and examined to be able to readily see the changes hidden beneath and within the sculpture. Research into diseases such as Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia and motor neurone diseases require brain samples, growing brains, brain imaging, mice.

    Ceramic scuplture

  • Lesion

    In retrospect, the lesion had been there for some time but subtly hidden from view.

  • Lesion (detail)

  • Distortion

    The changes in her personality where subtle but obvious to those that knew her best.

  • Matter

    Grey matter is a form of tissue in the brain and spinal chord that allows us to function ‘normally’. It is named from it’s pinky grey colour. A brain with mild cognitive impairment will shrink in size, like clay in the kiln.

  • Brain drawing

    The butterfly shape of the brain explored with thoughts of her and her obsession with purple which I’m sure will have increased the pinky hues.

    Seaweed drawing