Self-Portraits Chronicle a Descent Into Alzheimer’s
©2006 Galerie Beckel-Odille-Boicos
A self-portrait of William Utermohlen in 1967, top, and 2000, above
The New York Times reports about a wonderful – albeit heart-breaking – exibition:
When he learned in 1995 that he had Alzheimer’s disease, William Utermohlen, an American artist in London, responded in characteristic fashion.
“From that moment on, he began to try to understand it by painting himself,� said his wife, Patricia Utermohlen, a professor of art history.
Mr. Utermohlen’s self-portraits are being exhibited through Friday at the New York Academy of Medicine in Manhattan, by the Alzheimer’s Association.
The paintings starkly reveal the artist’s descent into dementia, as his world began to tilt, perspectives flattened and details melted away. His wife and his doctors said he seemed aware at times that technical flaws had crept into his work, but he could not figure out how to correct them.
“The spatial sense kept slipping, and I think he knew,� Professor Utermohlen said. A psychoanalyst wrote that the paintings depicted sadness, anxiety, resignation and feelings of feebleness and shame.
If one wants to understand Alzheimer, if one has a family member who suffers from it for instance, this exhibition might – in my opinion – prove to be very valuable. Looking at the two portraits at the top of this post… they say more than I can ever hope to say: no matter how many words I use.
Also: have a look at the slide show.
14 Responses to “Self-Portraits Chronicle a Descent Into Alzheimer’s”
This is sad.
C.Prez yeah I agree. At the slide show for instance, you see very well how his condition worsened in one year’s time. Incredible.
And I thought watching my grandfather deteriorate due to his Parkinson’s was tough…this Alzheimer’s example takes the cake to a degree. :-/
New evidence indicates that Cannibas may slow and even stop the onset of Alzheimers.
I have always suspected Cannibas has a symbiotic relationship with man and has a lot of curative properties.
Why in the hell is medical research being squelched.
Why aren’t we using all the resources at our command to fight these life killing diseases.
I’m looking at you too Democrats. Clinton screwed that part up real good too.
Are we really going to keep very effective medication away from sick and terminal people because they might get high. Because some idiots still hate the dirty hippies?
This is the realest stuff you’ve ever said. Period. LEGALIZE IT!!!
I remember my grandfather as he slipped away because of Alzheimer’s. It wasn’t fun for me to watch and be around – I can’t even imagine how hard it was for my father. All I know is that helping my father give grandpa one last amazing vacation before he totally slipped away was simultaneously the most difficult and the most rewarding thing I’ve ever done.
There’s a reason I donated my car to the local chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association
Cannabis promotes very dangerous things: community values, compassion, independent thought, creativity, eros, and the values of freedom. Under no circumstance can this be tolerated, no matter what its potential benefits.
Cannibus legal only when Liberal and Libertarians form a coalition.
Cannabis promotes very dangerous things: community values, compassion, independent thought, creativity, eros, and the values of freedom. Under no circumstance can this be tolerated, no matter what its potential benefits.
I know. What was I thinking?
Thats what SubKomadant Markos is trying to do. Its where I’m at. Me, and a few million of my fellow Americans anyway.
My uncle had MS and used canabis as well I believe to relieve his pain. cancer patients use it as well I think.
My uncle had MS and used canabis as well I believe to relieve his pain. cancer patients use it as well I think.
My mother told me as she was dying a slow death from cancer that canabis was the only thing that killed her pain and gave her an appetite. It was also the last time we were able to talk on any kind of level. If she had been able to use it sooner, she might have lived. Unfortunatly, a lifetime of Reefer Madness type conditioning was too hard to overcome in her and my father.
If by my death, pot would become legal, I would do it.
What pisses me off the most is…we can’t even have a discussion. If a congresscritter bring up legalization, they immeaditaly get accussed of wanting to sell Heroin to five year old kids.
We have to grow up, the world hangs in the balance.
If not legalize it, they could at least consider making it a pain reliever for those who suffer tremendously.
Michael, eleven states in the U.S. (AK, AZ, CA, CO, HI, ME, NV, OR, RI, VT and WA) have medical marijuana laws specifically for this purpose. Bush and friends have been using federal law to harass users and suppliers for the program.