This exhibition presents a range of work focused upon sickle cell. It reflects the experiences and interests of patients, scientists, doctors and the local community of Hackney.
Sickle Cell is the most prevalent genetic disorder in the UK but suffers for being the least understood.
The intention of this exhibition is to raise awareness through creativity and positive action.
"Our message is that sickle cell does not define or limit us in any way. We are living our lives to the fullest, attaining our dreams, ultimate potential and aspirations; regardless of having sickle cell. We may got knocked down here and there, and be sick often, but every morning we are alive is a great testimony that we are on this earth for a purpose. We celebrate our experiences, live in the moment, and cherish each day." Sicklecellwariors.com
Patients: Abisola, Joseph, Kevin, Shane
Funded by: The Sickle Cell Triathlon Fundraiser Sept 2012 Brighton, Laurence Pengelly & Danielle Dionne Cavanagh-Keane
Contributors: Community Sickle Cell & Thalassaemia Service, Dr Neville Clare, Eunice Louison, Francis John, Homerton Hospital Sickle Cell Service, Hackney Sickle Cell Group
Curator:Danielle Dionne Cavanagh-Keane
Kevin, Abisola, Shane
Abisola is a young woman who suffers from Sickle Cell Disease. In 2012, Abisola was informed by doctors that she she only had days to live......Her courage, beauty, strength and dignity to want to continue with her life is testament to her ability to apply herself through creativity. Abisola often documents her time & experiences spent in hospital through writing and self photography.
"Internal bleeding left me fighting for my life and the Doctors had no explanation and I am very grateful to be alive. I refuse to be a sickle cell victim, I am proud to be sickle cell positive because sickle cell is one of the good things that has happened in my life, aside from the pain it has made me see life in different perspectives and without my medical condition I might be a shallow minded person who looks down on people without respect, thinking that I am better than any of you. I love my life and I am thankful to be alive today".
Sickle Cell
Slide A & Slide B
Shane is a young & gifted musician who has the ability to apply his passion for music & lead the way in creating a positive platform for sickle cell. Shane is a rapper who expresses & shares his experiences of living with sickle cell through his lyrics.
"Wake up in agony but its sum fin that you try bypass,
invite your friends as company u buss jokes and you try laugh
then it starts to get worse later when the night casts
any plans you had see you n go right past.
gotta live life as best as you can
sometimes sickle takes the front seat so its best that you stand
its made even worse when for systems down and a bug got in
movements down to a minimum by the pain from the blood clotting
theres been a couple times when sickle has tried to dead I
but despite it all you must live life and keep your head high
just a little insight to this life is what I'm showing you
thankful for my blood bro's n sisters who know what I'm going through
not sure what i would have done without my family and all the support
and if you wished me well at any point I'm grateful for the thought"
Image provided by the Homerton University Hematology Laboratory
Suffering in silence, oh God, why me?
Indifference from the ignorant
Cut away at the disease & leave me whole
Keen to feel normal like everyone else
Love me for who I am not what I have
Eventually things will get better?
Cling to the hope that one day there will be a cure
Education is the key
Let me explain to you how I feel
Listen to my story & try to understand my journey
Darkness descends & another sleepless night waits for me
I'll try to maintain a positive attitude
Stuck in a recurrent rut
Easier to hide the truth
Allowing family & friends to care
So look on the bright side!
Eventually things will get better?
http://www.tate.org.uk/whats-on/tate-britain/display/donald-rodney-display
Rodney’s work addresses ideas of identity, family, home and Britishness – particularly with respect to a British, Afro-Caribbean diaspora. He became part of a generation of British-born black artists, filmmakers and performers who began to challenge accepted notions of what it meant to be British and contributed to an emergent black British consciousness. Rodney worked in a variety of media. Initially he made paintings but later created photographs, mixed media installations and works incorporating electronic media. Much of Rodney’s imagery stems from the fact that he had suffered from sickle cell anaemia from infancy. Rodney developed a highly personal vocabulary, for instance incorporating discarded x-rays as raw materials, though intending these references to medicine and the body to refer metaphorically to social sicknesses, including racism, police brutality or apartheid, as much as to his personal circumstances.
Joesph's work takes inspiration from the late artist Donald Rodney who explores sickle cell and x-rays to consider the social implications associated with the disease.
The x-ray identifies the area of Joseph's right shoulder which is affected by Avascular Necrosis (AVN, a complication caused by sickle cell which affects the blood and bones, resulting in pain.
Franics John is the Chair of the Hackney Sickle Cell Group and has been campaigning on behalf of sickle cell patients in Hackney for over thirty years.
"For all the years that I have campaigned for Sickle cell Disease, my objective has always been for there to be NO MORE CHILDREN TO BE BORN WITH SICKLE CELL DISEASE IN HACKNEY
-this is still true today". Francis John
"Respect and partnership between patients and health care professionals are key to dealing with this lifelong condition". Dr Neville Clare, An Oscar for My Troubles.
For further information on sickle cell, please follow the links below and keep a look out for future projects, soon to be taking place in and around Hackney involving the local community; food, music, art, healing.
http://www.xechemnigeria.com/products.htm
http://sicklecellwarriors.com/
http://www.justgiving.com/sicklecell-trifundraiser
http://www.homerton.nhs.uk/our-services/childrens-services-in-the-community/sickle-cell-thalassaemia-service/
http://www.dr-nevilleclare.co.uk/index.html
http://www.sicklecellsociety.org/websites/123reg/LinuxPackage22/si/ck/le/sicklecellsociety.org/public_html/
