Artist Statement

The miniature environment installation focuses on the Alzheimer’s disease, and is inspired by artists Felix Gonzalez Torres, William Utermohlen, Anna Schuleit, Andy Singleton, and Polina Sinyatkina. The installation works as a sculpture created from a lamp, magazine paper, shadows and light. The purpose of the installation was to communicate the effect on the brain of the person suffering from the Alzheimer’s disease. The space may have several sense-driving factors such as visual texture, heat, movement, and sound.

Alzheimer’s disease is a slowly progressing, irreversible neurodegenerative brain disease that is the 6th leading cause of death in the United States. This disease is the only top-10 death that cannot be prevented, cured, or slowed creating a growing encumbrance for the patients, their care takers, and the healthcare system. It is believed that Alzheimer’s disease is caused by the buildup of two proteins in the brain—amyloid beta and tau—thought to be caused by advanced age and/or genetic factors. As scientifically documented, the protein is represented by a curled, ribbon-like form. These proteins create tangles which disrupt nerve cells and impair the neurological function of the brain.

The architectural structure of the lamp was advantageous. At first, it was possible to see through the lamp. As the plaques grew in numbers, as they would within the brain, they forced a foggy reflection on the wall. As the days turn to night, Alzheimer’s patients might experience mood swings and their mental state is further disrupted. The obstructed view of the lightbulb further presented the limitations of growing ideas within the brain. While the paper protein plaques contained writing, the writing became trivial as the minds of the patients no longer understood or remembered themselves, families, and facts. Coincidentally, while rolling the paper proteins to create the conjunction of plaques, my brain would disappear into a hypnotic state and perform the task without a second thought. Surprisingly, once snapped back into reality, the idea or rolling paper also resonated with the way Alzheimer’s patients fold tissue paper methodically.

The overwhelming statistics about the disease may illuminate an emotionally triggered response that affects all patients and caretakers. As some members in my family are affected by this disease, it is important to shed light on the substantial physical, mental, and financial toll on those who are battling the disease and those who are caring for them.