“I was your childhood friend. You gave me your daughter.”
These are words of my late mother-in-law, Ramaba placed next to a saree image in the artist book, Silent Voice.
Ramaba’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis alarmed me. She was the epitome of beauty but a disconnect between her and the world had set in. She was unable to communicate in a manner people were accustomed to. They did not know how to react/ interact with her. She went quiet.
I felt a deep need to give her a voice. I decided to make a photographic book.
Through Silent Voice, I make visible the invisibility of her Alzheimer’s condition. I created images to evoke a visceral response in the viewer – to emphasize her foggy, confused mind. I wanted the viewer to look back and forth between images and her spoken fragmented recollections – for him/her to reflect on the harshness of the disease.
The afterword in Silent Voice reveals the trigger for her transient, random memories. Many of hers had triggered mine. Those one-to-one times were precious. I miss her joy, I miss her!
The time constraint of her daily needs prompted me to photograph spontaneously and intuitively, steering me in a new way: to slow down and breathe, to be light and playful – to embrace her changing world. The project had been my solace, helping me to unleash the deep sadness and loss I felt within.
Being awarded a Fellowship for Silent Voice- has prompted me to bring about a change.
I am delighted to be working with St Albans Museum & Gallery on bringing awareness about a harsh subject in an inspiring creative manner.
On 29th January, 2023 at the St Albans Museum and Gallery:
- IN CONVERSATION EVENT about how the book came into being
- BOOK LAUNCH TO RAISE MONEY FOR ALZHEIMER’S
- MULTIMEDIA INSTALLATION SHOWCASED AMONGST INVISIBLE THREADS EXHIBITON.
Please click on this link to buy a £5 ticket.
ARTMUSELONDON 