By Birgitte Christens

COUNTRY: Denmark

DISEASE: Crohn’s Disease

FORMAT: Sculpture

ARTIST’S SUMMARY

The artwork illustrates the affected intestines of the patient through shower tubes which we associate with private/intimate bathing habits. The shower tubes carry water in the same way that our intestines carry food and liquids through the body. The tubes close up if they get calcified or form knots.

The metallic intestines have been fitted with ceramic objects showing the stenosis the patient suffers from. The ceramic has red and yellow shared to show the inflammation of the intestines. The ceramic pieces are placed on a hanger, representing the body. We clean our body on the outside, just like we clean our clothes, to appear nice and healthy. Patients with Crohn’s Disease are ill on the inside, and our eyes cannot see it. The hanger is therefore placed in a stand with a transparent plastic bag over it, just like in a dry-cleaning shop, enabling the spectator to see the disease.

The empty bags represent healthy bodies; they don’t feel their intestines and these are therefore shown to be invisible. Some of the ceramic objects carry imprints of elegant lingerie as a contrast to the symptoms of Crohn’s, which include uncontrollable bowel movements and foul [...] continue the story

By Wafaa Salameh

COUNTRY: Jordan

DISEASE: Crohn’s Disease

FORMAT: Painting

ARTIST’S SUMMARY

I conducted interviews with a Crohn’s Disease patient. She described her day to day life and how she used to live and adapt to her case. I took some notes and utilized them for conducting research. I was eager to learn more about the disease, to understand the patient’s journey.

PATIENT’S PERSPECTIVE

“The portrait is a translation of my story; I am a female Crohn’s Disease patient who has reached rock bottom due to my illness; I almost reached death. I used to say goodbye to life, to people around me… until I was given help. I started to flow to the surface again, I crossed from darkness to light, leaving behind me all the pain and suffering which used to be my shadow.”

About Perspectives

‘Perspectives – Art, Inflammation and Me’ is an initiative that brings together more than 200 artists with patients in more than 40 countries. Together, they have created a series of paintings, sculptures, photos and other artistic expressions that vividly depict — and help others understand — the impact of immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs). Inspired by patients’ stories, independent artists and students from a number of art universities created each piece to help [...] continue the story

By Guillermo Ros Lluch

COUNTRY: Spain

DISEASE: Crohn’s Disease

FORMAT: Sculpture

ARTIST’S SUMMARY

‘Coexistentia’ represents the co-existence of the body and the disease, separate from one another. The body is shown as an iron cuirass, which displays the armor that the subject constructs, piece by piece, to protect themselves from the disease. The rusted armor symbolizes the relationship between the autoimmune condition of the disease, the passage of time, and the burden carried by patients. The intestinal area was opened by the hands to unveil what is inside. The disease is represented by Rosa Valencia marble, an extremely hard, compact material with red veins, symbolizing the human body and sickness. The work captures the concept of coexistence, adaptation and an inevitable prolonged battle over time.

PATIENT’S PERSPECTIVE

“I am a patient partner and I believe that we don’t have to make short or medium-term projects but we have to set out to live for the moment. It is during the most critical moments that we accept and understand each other.”

About Perspectives

‘Perspectives – Art, Inflammation and Me’ is an initiative that brings together more than 200 artists with patients in more than 40 countries. Together, they have created a series of paintings, sculptures, photos and other artistic expressions that [...] continue the story

By Barbara Miller

COUNTRY: United States

DISEASE: Crohn’s Disease

FORMAT: Sculpture & Cross Stitching

ARTIST’S SUMMARY

The idea behind this artistic concept is that ‘Tic Tac Toe’ is representative of life with Crohn’s Disease (CD). Much like a game, CD is a disease through which there are personal wins, losses and draws. Words like hope, strength, endurance, courage, ache and low illustrate the range of emotion that patients who live with CD experience while on the road from awareness, diagnosis, and ultimately living with a chronic disease. The patient said that while you don’t always win at the game of life or CD, you still have to play.

PATIENT’S PERSPECTIVE

“My sister would always tell me off every time that I hogged the bathroom. When I was told that I had Crohn’s Disease, I knew I was different and special; I was given my own pill case, would often go to the hospital and missed a lot of school. I spent a lot of time reading comics, doing crafts and sitting in the doctor’s office. It was at times unfair but overall I know that as much as this disease has defined me, I have also defined what it means to live with a chronic illness.”

About Perspectives

‘Perspectives – [...] continue the story

By Nicole Brunel and Iain Chisholm

Medium used: Leather, wire, ceramics, cotton, silicone, acrylic paint

Artist Biography

Nicole Brunel is a third year student at the Alberta College of Art + Design. Her studies focus on sculpture and painting and how the two disciplines are related. Brunel also holds a BA (Honours) in Archaeology from the University of Calgary and has traveled many parts of the world working as an archaeologist and also as a touring musician. These diverse experiences now inform her artwork, which seeks connections between disparate ideas and aims to provoke questions that can be appreciated without answers.

Using the artist’s words, summarize the artwork and how they feel it reflects the patient’s moment of meaning

This artwork should be considered not only as a reflection of a “moment of meaning” but also the creation of one. To create this moment, the sculpture was conceived conceptually and physically through collaboration. The piece is a visual representation of how Crohn’s disease affects the body and mind. Referencing Iain’s body and identity is a black leather encasement filled with organ-like components. These organs appear to resist and create a strain on the leather body, weighing it down and escaping from it. They also support [...] continue the story

By Daniel Cleghorn and Iain Chisholm

Medium used: Steel – Hanging requirements: wall mount is to be screwed in 43 inches from the ground. The bottom of the sculpture should be three feet from the ground. This is relational to Iain’s abdomen and part of the piece.

Artist Biography

Born in Alberta, and raised between the small towns of Rocky Ford AB, Powell River BC and the city of Calgary AB. My work reflects from the contrast of the two cultures: small town for its community based and empathic value, and city life for its large scale and minimalist style. Currently enrolled at the Alberta College of Art + Design in my third year, as a sculpture major. The undertone of my work is based on the idea of empathy and creating a catalyst for thought and communications between the viewers.

Using the artist’s words, summarize the artwork and how they feel it reflects the patient’s moment of meaning

Talking to Iain about the “moment of meaning” he couldn’t pinpoint one. He just took the Crohn’s as it came, in stride, which was my inspiration. The size and height of the piece is that of Iain’s abdomen to make unique to Iain and his condition. [...] continue the story

By Micaela Blondin de Boer

Medium used: Digital

Artist Biography

Micaela is in her final year of study at the Alberta College of Art and Design in the Character Design program. Dramatic costuming and fantasy environments influence her; so much of her art reflects her imagination. She is passionate about writing and focuses her art and design on novels she is working on. Micaela is passionate about creating traditional looking paintings through digital mediums.

Using the artist’s words, summarize the artwork and how they feel it reflects the patient’s moment of meaning

The overall feeling I got from her was her sense of loss and loneliness that came with coping with psoriasis. Remaining isolated from those who do not understand the disease; she was, in a sense, trapped within her home and her body. There were many years that she gave up, and a prevailing sadness and depression became the norm. The inability to speak openly about psoriasis without fear of judgment hampered her ability to maintain connections and feel free from her disease.

Using the artist’s words, describe how they felt about this experience

‘Trapped Within’ is a visual representation of her feelings towards her psoriasis and the experience she had with the disease. The bands [...] continue the story