Kira Roulston
An artist’s relationships throughout their life can define their identity and practice. Is this still the case when Alzheimer’s and face blindness obscure these relationships? Through the marks the artist makes, either bold, non-existent or somewhere in between, the essence of their loved ones appears to a degree. This results in characteristics morphing into one with glimpses of each person shining through, captured perhaps by the use of delicate materials. The brittle aspect of the charcoal may be reflective of the rawness/fragility of the artist, as they deal with the disease, aspects of their life being whole one minute and broken the next.
Exhibition Statement
Throughout my final year, I’ve been exploring Alzheimer’s and how it may affect an artist. I first focused on the artist, their practice and identity through one large-scale drawing in recorded drawing sessions and, as the year progressed, through the more personal lens of how the disease affects the artist's life by considering family relationships and face blindness. The final drawing depicts the essence and characteristics of the artist's loved ones, morphing into one as the artist struggles to recall who is who. However, glimpses of remembrance of their family remain throughout.
Social Media
Gallery
