The Devastation Of Alzheimer’s Portrayed In 5 Years Of Self-Portraits By Suffering Artist
In 1995, at the age of 61, UK-based painter William Utermohlen was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Encouraged by his nurse, who loved his work, Utermohlen never gave up his life-long passion and painted as much as he could until his memory failed him completely. The artist’s artist’s self-portraits grimly illustrates the merciless progression of the disease, which he had been exploring through visual self-reflection with paint and brushes during the last 5 years of his artistically active life.
“Even the time he was beginning to be ill, he was always always drawing, every minute of the day,” the artist’s wife, Patricia Utermohlen, recalls. “I say he died in 2000, because he died when he couldn’t draw any more. He actually died in 2007, but it wasn’t him by then.”
More info: williamutermohlen.org | newstatesman.com | nytimes.com (h/t: reddit)
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Sad but true depiction of this tragic progressive terminal disease…….
very sad, brings tears to my eyes, although these pictures and through other art perhaps they could help to spread awareness for this unbelievable disease and research into the true underlying causes
Tragic. I read that Alzheimer’s affects different parts of the brain in different people. I notice that these is an increasing focus on, and distortion of, that part of the the head which corresponds. I wonder if that was the location of most of the damage in his brain. I have lost dear ones to Alzheimer’s too. And I’m an artist. This breaks my heart, yet is so profound.
Sad.
Well actually I think it is very interesting art, and before you go all dramatic on my ass,my dad was an artist, he got Alzheimers and is now in a home…. sadly he lost all motivation to paint and a painting sat unfinished on his easel for 5 years
Sad photos. My Grandad may he rest in peace, had severe Alzheimers, he had it for the last 13 years of his life. Watched an otherwise healthy man lose himself into a state of nothingness. Horrible disease, robs you of your very soul.
Not sad. Awesome. This guy is drifting drifting further and further out from our cosy consensual reality and showing us what lies beyond through the medium of self portraiture. These pictures have opened my eyes to what art is about.
Have you ever really experienced the devastation of a loved one with Alzheimers? I find it too hard to see past the devastation and horror of the disease to go “cool, art”.
Chris, although some might consider your comment to be callous, I do not, even though my mother died with Alzheimer’s Disease. Perceptually and artistically you are right and I congratulate you for having the courage to say so. Art often demands that courage. As for Alzheimer’s Disease, that demands courage too, more often more intensely from family and loved ones than from the sufferer. However, as my mother’s body and mind declined, she no longer put up defenses against the world and her soul showed through. It was a lovely soul, more so by being able to be seen in comparison with her disintegrated brain and body.