The Shape of Memory

The booklet highlights how poetry and art can interact as a form of therapy, enhancing communication and nurturing social connections between carers and their loved ones. Each artist has chosen a poem from the Alzheimer’s UK website (Poems for Dementia), written by loved ones and carers, and illustrated with sensitivity and care, in the hope that it offers emotional comfort. The poems have been interpreted through each artist’s individual practice, including painting, architecture, jewellery, visual communication, and textile, and demonstrate the diversity of artistic expression and its ability to resonate with personal emotional experiences.

This project focuses on those caring for people with dementia, who are equally affected by the condition. Often, these caregivers are spouses, family members, or professionals. Our research revealed that while most attention is directed toward the person with dementia, the vital support provided by caregivers is frequently overlooked. It is well-established that caregivers also require support due to the emotional, physical, and mental toll of constant exposure to the situation.