BU Research Blog

 Over the last six months BUDI has been working to engage with the public and promote awareness and understanding of dementia. ‘(Don’t) Mention Dementia’ is an innovative exhibition created by BUDI and media artist Derek Eland (http://derekeland.com/), with the aim of giving a voice to people living with dementia.

(Don’t) Mention Dementia is an immersive pictorial exhibition, featuring hand-written postcards and portrait pictures. A diary room approach was used to capture the honest and emotional stories of nearly 600 Dorset residents about dementia, and the views of those living with dementia about their experiences.

The exhibition follows on from Derek’s ground-breaking work with soldiers and civilians on the front line in Afghanistan, and reveals the gap in perception between those who live with dementia and the general public.

Whilst the work was undertaken in Dorset, the response and the messages is universal from those living with dementia, family members, carers and members of the general public, with the postcards and pictures acting as an innovative voice to express their fears, their concerns and their hopes for the future.

The general public were able to view the exhibition as part of Bournemouth University’s Festival of Learning in June. The exhibition was closed by broadcaster and Alzheimer’s Society ambassador Angela Rippon and has received support from The Alzheimer’s Society, Age UK, Brandon Care Homes and local community groups and businesses in Dorset. It has already attracted international interest, and is also due to be displayed in Malta in October 2013.

The (Don’t) mention Dementia exhibition attracted an array of media interest and the article which featured in the Daily Echo can be viewed online:
Please click here for link to Daily Echo article.