Sunday, January 27, 2013

Talking Migraine and Art


Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life :1

I've never actively pursued an involvement in the world of migraine, but again I find myself involved in a related project , Art and Perception. In the past I have been in competitions and exhibitions, been interviewed and written about, having to relate my experiences  re art and migraine. When younger it was sometimes done reluctantly because I didn't want to be reminded of something that was, basically, unpleasant. As I have got older the attacks are less frequent and less intense so now I am not so reluctant to be involved. As part of Art and Perception I am looking forward to meeting up again with Dr Klaus Podoll an expert in migraine art, in an 'in conversation' on March 20th. It's probably the first time that I will be looking forward to a migraine event, possibly because I feel more in control of the beast, and hopefully It will be a positive experience for all involved. Dr Podoll has written a lot about one of my favourite artists, Giorgio de Chirico, so we will  have more than one topic in common. He has pretty well proved that De Chirico suffered from Migraine, which I didn;t know when I picked up on him, or did I,sublimanally? Now, I can recognize and emphathise with, much of his visual vocabulary.
It's a pity The Migraine Man triptych will not be shown in person (only as a copy) but the exhibition will include another triptych, Always Look on the Bright Side of Life, which has only been seen once before. It has emerged from a dark and remote part of my studio to see the light of day in Oxford.

3 comments:

  1. I am pleased to meet you. I lived with chronic migraines for 38 years and am now free of them. Your Art completely, I cannot say beautifully, describes the agony I felt for all those years. Never have I seen anything like it.
    To me, your Art is painful to see, as it may be to other sufferers. I couldn't have it on my wall (maybe later when the pain is more a memory). Perhaps that is why your Art disappeared.

    I thank you and honor you for your work. I only wish I had known you earlier. It would have done much to explain to my loved ones what I was going through.

    Most sincerely,

    Kathleen
    Oklahoma City, OK, USA

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hi Kathleen
    Thanks very much for your honest comments about my migraine art. I appreciate that as a migraine sufferer you wouldn't have it on your wall-I feel the same!
    For me, making it was about trying to unburden myself, trying to cure myself I suppose. I like to think that it at least helped, although it's probably more about getting older!
    I very much like your comment that showing my artwork to family and friends could explain what a migraine sufferer goes through. It's makes the disappearance of my Migraine Man triptych even more annoying to me.
    I'm glad that you are free of migraine and thanks again for your comments.
    Best wishes
    JJ

    ReplyDelete
  3. Artists Against Migraines. 416 likes · 36 talking about this. Community. We share art by artists with migraines to spread awareness and promote understanding. Natural migraine remedies for women

    ReplyDelete