Artful Mind Exhibition by Dementia Tauranga

Artful Mind is Dementia Tauranga’s annual awareness exhibition, created to challenge the stigma surrounding dementia and celebrate the people behind the diagnosis.

The project pairs local artists with people living on the dementia journey. Artists spend time listening to their stories, learning about their lives, memories, passions and experiences, and then interpret those stories through their own artistic practice.

The resulting artworks provide a unique opportunity for the community to see beyond a diagnosis and connect with the person, their story and their identity.

The local artists involved in this year’s exhibition are:

Bronwyn Copeland
Steph Harlan
Anne Shirley
Lynette Fisher
Jayna Caudwell
Laura Penny

Dementia affects individuals, families and communities across Aotearoa New Zealand. As awareness and understanding become increasingly important, Artful Mind provides a creative way to challenge misconceptions and reduce the stigma surrounding dementia.

The exhibition aims to remind us that dementia does not define a person. People living with dementia continue to have stories, experiences, relationships, personalities and things that matter deeply to them.

Through Artful Mind, participants have the opportunity to:

Share their stories and experiences represented through art
Celebrate their identity and individuality
Connect with and inspire local artists
Have their voices and stories heard in a meaningful way

The artists and wider community have the opportunity to:

Develop an awareness of the lived experience of dementia
Challenge stereotypes and reduce stigma
See the person beyond the diagnosis
Build greater empathy, connection and understanding

Artful Mind is more than an exhibition. It is an invitation to look beyond dementia, discover the stories behind the artwork, and see the person who is still there.

Art has a way of finding what memory leaves behind.