Edward McLaughlin is an activist on behalf of dementia who was awarded an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list in 2011 for his tireless campaigning to raise awareness. During October, he is exhibiting a selection of his artworks at the Studio at the Festival Theatre.
McLaughlin is from East Kilbride and was an amateur artist as well as an internationally esteemed engineer. In 2002, he received a diagnosis of dementia and retreated for a long time into inactivity and depression. Emerging from this, he took up campaigning and making art again. To his amazement he discovered that he now saw the world quite differently, particularly with regard to colours. Until then, his work had been characterised by meticulous pencil drawings but what followed was vibrant portraits that reflected his new visual sensibility.
The exhibition that includes drawings of his character creation ‘Al Zeimer’ encourages a greater understanding of what it means to be diagnosed with dementia and the role of art in exploring the impact of diagnosis and the empowering nature of creativity.
“What I would like to highlight the most is the fact that a diagnosis is not the end of the road, you can live a very good quality of life. I have known people who have been diagnosed for 20 years and still have a good standard of life.” ” says Edward.
The exhibition is supported by the Life Changes Trust, who awarded funding to the Festival and King’s Theatres earlier this year to launch a pioneering collaborative project designed to create dementia friendly communities at the heart of our cultural venues. www.lifechangestrust.org.uk
Thursday 22nd October 1pm – 2pm
Thursday 22nd October 5pm – 6pm
Friday 30th October 10.30am – 11.30am
The viewing will be in the gallery space at the Studio of the Festival Theatre.
The studio has a separate entrance at 22 Potterrow, EH8 9BL. The gallery is on the second floor of the studio building. There is a lift and the building is fully accessible.
Reservations 0131 622 8444 or email [email protected]