Dementia Darnings

The Dementia Darnings developed from my mother’s interest and joy in looking through family photo albums. She was diagnosed with dementia in 2011 and as my role as carer increased it seemed only possible to continue my art practice by making her and our situation the subject of my work.  

Working initially from old photos squared up, I developed the images in a way similar to making a cross hatched drawing, by sewing through fine bobinette netting stretched over a canvas. I have a method of working whereby I mask off areas of canvas and photo, and turn everything sideways or upside down. This technique allows me to disassociate with the image, not become distracted by the whole. I can work into areas focusing on colour and tone, form and shape.

It is a slow, meditative process. Each one can take up to four months to complete. 

The series grew as my mother went into a nursing home. As I relinquished her care, I became an observer. I began to separate each length of wool into individual strands.

This finer yarn conveyed her gentle frailty.  She died peacefully in 2015. 

The Dementia Darnings have travelled extensively in the U.K. and Europe, a selection reached China in 2018.

MATERIAL
Wools sewn into fine netting stretched over canvas. All 16 portraits have now been liberated from the canvas and suspend freely on acrylic hangings.

SIZE
130cm x 90cm. (Two are 90cm x 130cm).