Joyce
‘Joyce’ is a body of work that explores the deterioration of my Nan brought about by her Alzheimer’s diagnosis. I wanted to use photography to represent both the loss of her memory and her core identity. This disease has rendered her all but unrecognisable to those who love her.
Using photography, I wanted to record the objects around her to create visual connections between her rapidly receding past and her present reality. Using her environment that is now changing and adapting around her, to represent how the Alzheimers is taking over and morphing out of her control.
In contrast, sentimental connections are made by using found pressed flowers from her garden juxtaposed with archival family album photography to represent her delicate and fragile state of mind, adding a sense of tactility to her shapeshifting identity.
The combination of text and image throughout brings to light the effects the disease not only has on her but also how the disease is affecting those closest to her. These voices of text, cut in and emphasises the strain in which the disease impacts those who love her most.
The drawn-out decline of her mental health lengthens the sense of loss to her family. Although still physically here Nan’s identity has all but been consumed by the disease, elongating the grieving process for the family, due to her still being physically here.
Through these combinations of methodologies, Nan’s sensitive story is shared, encouraging conversations that draw away from the stigma around Alzheimers being, “Something that just happens in old age” and acknowledges, Alzheimers as a disease. Formulating a deeper understanding of the disease. Helping to create a wider educational awareness.
Youtube Book Link: https://youtu.be/-VJs_FcKkTM
