Internationally-acclaimed artist, Mackenzie Thorpe whose work is owned by HM the Queen and JK Rowling, pledged his support to the Alzheimer’s Society today, by urging anyone who is worried about dementia to reach out for support and advice.
A recent poll released to mark Dementia Awareness Week (18-24 May) shows that more than 40% of people affected by dementia have kept concerns about the condition bottled up, with a further 54% waiting at least 6 months before seeking professional help. The celebrated artist, whose life was touched by the condition when his father was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, has been a dedicated supporter of dementia charities and recently joined the Alzheimer’s Society to help raise awareness of the condition and the support available. This week the artist has dedicated his time by visiting various workshops including the Dementia Café to meet and speak with people will be living with dementia, workers and carers at the Society.
Thorpe, who has dyslexia, has always used art as a means of therapy and expression in dealing with the adversities faced in life and hopes to share his skills through art therapy workshops for people with dementia in association with the Alzheimer’s Society.
Mackenzie’s father’s diagnosis was the first encounter the artist had with the disease. He said:
“Dementia and Alzheimer’s has touched my life. My father died in 2011 after suffering from Alzheimer’s and I saw first-hand the terrible impact of the disease on both him and my mother (who was his main carer). It is difficult to talk about it particularly in the early stages, you almost don’t want to acknowledge it. You get frustrated at times and you also want to protect your loved one and there is just a huge mix of emotions to deal with, including real feelings of sadness.”
As much of Thorpe’s art is highly emotive, touching on his own experiences as well as the shared struggles and triumphs of humanity, the artist hopes to encourage more people to engage in open dialogue and embrace the support that is available to them by communicating with organisations such as the Alzheimer’s Society.
