Shattered Reflections

Dementia, a merciless thief of memories, propels its victims into a twilight state where familiarity and coherence slowly slip away. In a series of poignant artworks exhibited at the esteemed Gate House Gallery in 2018, I embarked on a visual journey to capture the essence of my beloved Nana, who grappled with the debilitating effects of dementia in the final stages of her life. Through a transformative process that involved scanning vintage photographs and creating reflective photograms in the Darkroom, each artwork became a window into Nana's fading world, conveying the fragmented nature of her recollections and mirroring the erratic dance between remembrance and forgetfulness. These photograms, created using light, shadow, and various materials, breathed new life into the vintage images, blurring the boundaries between reality and imagination and infusing them with new layers of meaning.

This body of work aimed to challenge viewers to confront the uncomfortable reality of dementia while acknowledging the beauty that can still be found within the imperfections. By delving into Nana's fading world, the photograms became a testament to her resilience and spirit, as she faced a path that constantly shifted beneath her feet. The transformative process of scanning the vintage photographs and creating reflective photograms in the Darkroom allowed me to reinterpret the past and infuse it with new layers of meaning. It invited viewers to reflect on the universal fragility of memory and to embrace the imperfect beauty that resides within us all.

The exhibition at the Gate House Gallery provided a platform to share my deeply personal journey and invite viewers to engage with the complexities of dementia through the power of art. Within the gallery space, the photograms resonated with visitors, offering a visual narrative that delved into the depths of the human experience. The exhibition fostered dialogue, empathy, and understanding around the challenges faced by individuals living with dementia and their loved ones. Through these transformed images, I aimed to raise awareness about the profound impact of dementia, sparking empathy and shedding light on the often overlooked struggles of