Imaginary Herbaria of Dr James Miranda Barry

Toxic Tau

Mamamania: An artistic interpretation of Alzheimer's Disease

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A study of the artists grandmother's hands, folded in her lap. The artist's grandmother suffers from Alzheimer's, and this painting was created shortly after 'Mama' moved to a nursing home, after her Alzheimer's disease progressed to a stage where could no longer look after herself. "She lost a lot of weight, and a broad, strong, matriarch became a feeble, bird-like woman. Yet however small her frame became, her hands remained large and strong and capable." 



'Mania' expresses the dementia Mama experiences, also reflected in the fragmented shapes and background of the painting; an atmosphere reflecting the nightmares she described earlier on in the process of losing her mind, when she was still able to explain it. Mania, also relates to the Latin roots of the word for hand. The relaxed pose of her hands in the picture alludes to the way the body can settle and remain hardy, even when the mind has become chaotic.

Artwork of an imaginary herbarium re-interpreted from a historical anatomical plate (source: Sir Astley Paston Cooper, 1768-1841), using inks, pastels and graphite on paper. Text in image reads: 
Tonight I have sown breasts

Their fragrant flowers help me to forgive and forget



The Imaginary Herbaria of Dr James Miranda Barry marks the 150th anniversary of Dr Barry's death. It is a fictional journal that tells the story of Dr Barry playing with her books of anatomy and writing about her elusive and secluded private life. Margaret Ann Balkley was born in 1795 and in order to be admitted to university and practice medicine, took on the name of James Miranda Barry, as women were not permitted to enter university at that time.

This image is the artist's interpretation of part of a scanning electron micrograph of a brain cell of an Alzheimer's patient. It shows a tangle of protein (green) which lies within the cytoplasm (blue) of the cell. The tangle consists of clumps of a toxic form of tau.

 
The original artwork measures 77cm x 140 cm and is made entirely using the ancient craft of felt making and the medium is pure wool and silk fibres amalgamated with friction, soap and water.

Artwork of an imaginary herbarium re-interpreted from a historical anatomical plate (source: Giulio Cesare Casseri, 1552 - 1616), using inks, pastels and graphite on paper. Text in image reads: 

I still keep the shy heart of my childhood 

among the plants of my garden



The Imaginary Herbarium of Dr James Miranda Barry marks the 150th anniversary of Dr Barry's death. It is a fictional journal that tells the story of Dr Barry playing with her books of anatomy and writing about her elusive and secluded private life. Margaret Ann Balkley was born in 1795 and in order to be admitted to university and practice medicine, took on the name of James Miranda Barry, as women were not permitted to enter university at that time.

Artwork of an imaginary herbarium re-interpreted from a historical anatomical plate (source: D.J. Cunningham, 1850 - 1909), using inks, pastels and graphite on paper. Text in image reads: 

I sink my teeth into my doubts and chew over

Until they fly away like kind birds



The Imaginary Herbarium of Dr James Miranda Barry marks the 150th anniversary of Dr Barry's death. It is a fictional journal that tells the story of Dr Barry playing with her books of anatomy and writing about her elusive and secluded private life. Margaret Ann Balkley was born in 1795 and in order to be admitted to university and practice medicine, took on the name of James Miranda Barry, as women were not permitted to enter university at that time.

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Mamamania: An artistic interpretation of Alzheimer's Disease

Imaginary Herbaria of Dr James Miranda Barry

Toxic Tau

Imaginary Herbaria of Dr James Miranda Barry

Imaginary Herbaria of Dr James Miranda Barry

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Wellcome uses cookies.

Memory loss

Images

Catalogue

Mamamania: An artistic interpretation of Alzheimer's Disease

Imaginary Herbaria of Dr James Miranda Barry

Toxic Tau

Imaginary Herbaria of Dr James Miranda Barry

Imaginary Herbaria of Dr James Miranda Barry

Wellcome Collection

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