‘Time-Lapse’ exhibition is about immortality, a state of life beyond the power of death.
As Emily Dickinson wrote…
Unable are the loved to die, for love is immortality.
‘Time-Lapse’ is an ongoing project that I had been unwittingly working on for a number of years, inspired by my own personal experiences as a caregiver for my mother, Maisie, living with Alzheimer’s. Her diagnosis has had a transformative impact on my life, and of course a major influence on my work, as an Artist and Poet.
At the beginning of 2022, with the help of Irish Hospice Foundation through the Seed grant award, in association with the Creative Ireland programme, I began a cathartic journey, exploring the complexities of time, memory and loss in a series of new paintings, original poetry and installations. A voyage that has evolved and adapted over the past year while touring to each new space and in response to the different feedback from the Community.
In presenting this project, I wished to make caring visible, ensuring that the voices of carers are listened to, even when it can be difficult to find the right words. It was important for me to create a space for carers to be not only seen, but also heard.
I also wanted to draw attention to the stigma associated with dementia. By heightening its awareness, I hope my work will support and comfort others coping with similar situations by bringing forth a greater understanding of the condition. I invite the viewer to pause and reflect on the cherished moments that shaped their lives and to contemplate their own experiences of grief, love and the cyclical nature of life.
In this new touring exhibition, Maria explores the complexities of time, memory and loss in a series of new paintings, original poetry and installations. Through her artwork, Maria portrays the untethering of time that comes with Alzheimer’s and the archaeological uncovering of a parent’s entire life that arrives with their death.
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This article was written as part of Carers Week 2023. For more resources, please visit our Carers Week webpage.
