“Progression” is a series of acrylic paintings on 9″x11″ canvases that represent the process of losing your memory as a result of Alzheimer’s/ Dementia. This project was heavily influenced by my sisters extensive research on the correlation between Dementia and loneliness. Her paper inspired me to create a series of paintings with repeating quotes and patters that slowly fade as they go across the seven canvases.
I created these paintings by repeating what I did on the previous one solely off memory. As I continued to paint I realized that I was forgetting steps and details and that my handwriting was getting progressively worse and worse until it became illegible. This process of forgetting and essentially “ruining” a pattern encapsulated what it feels like to succumb to the illness that is Dementia.
I wanted my classmates to experience the same process that I went through so I asked them to write anything repeatedly over the seven canvases and see how their handwriting changed and how they began to forget what they were doing. I felt that the piece became more personal to everyone by doing this because now they are immortalized within my artwork.
If you are interested in reading my sisters article here it is!
Be sure to let me know what you think of her work and I’ll be happy to pass along the news :)!