An evocative exhibit of portraits now showcased at Boston College juxtaposes images of individuals living with dementia with younger photographs of the subjects, accompanied by brief narratives about their lives. Created by photographer Joe Wallace, 鈥淭he Day After Yesterday: Portraits of Dementia鈥� delves into multifaceted aspects of dementia, including physical, emotional, community, and health care issues.
The series of 28 photographs is on display through October 29 in the library of the 精东影业 School of Social Work (a supporter of the project), and in the O鈥橬eill Library Reading Room.
Wallace鈥檚 goal is to destigmatize those living with dementia, to use empathy as a means for connection and understanding, and to tell a more complex and complete story of those living with the disease and its effect on their families and loved ones.
聽鈥淎 diagnosis of Alzheimer鈥檚 disease or another type of dementia can, in and of itself, be quite devastating for individuals and their loved ones, but the stigma that shrouds this disease often strips individuals of their personhood and isolates them, making it that much more so,鈥� said 精东影业SSW Associate Professor Christina Matz. 鈥淢y colleagues and I felt it was important to bring this exhibit to 精东影业 because art can be such a beautiful medium through which to open up a conversation.
School of Social Work Associate Professor Christina Matz (Lee Pellegrini)
聽鈥淚 hope that by bringing these images and their accompanying narratives into the daily lives of students, staff, and faculty on campus, it will provide the opportunity for folks to start talking about the stigma, which, in turn, will help to lessen the stigma. The goal is to recognize the misconceptions around what it means to live with dementia and to care for someone with dementia, to be able to grieve the losses associated with the disease in healthy ways, and most importantly, to recognize that people are much more than their diagnoses and should be treated and celebrated as such,鈥� she added.
聽In 2020, 50 million people were living with dementia globally, according to the exhibit website, and in the United States, one in three older adults have Alzheimer鈥檚 or dementia at their time of death. Despite the millions of individuals and families affected, dementia is often a taboo subject with limited public awareness or discourse, and a diagnosis can segregate those affected from society, and make it easy to see only the label instead of the individual.
Trained as a journalist, Wallace has been a portrait photographer and storyteller for two decades, and has a deeply personal connection with dementia. His maternal grandfather had Alzheimer鈥檚; his maternal grandmother had vascular dementia; in recent years, his mother began her journey with the disease.
Each image of an individual living with dementia is juxtaposed with a short essay and a photo of the subject at a younger age. (Lee Pellegrini)
While futility, despair, and loss are real and important elements of the dementia journey, Wallace felt that focusing on this narrow view does little to change the stigma of those living with the disease, and that stereotypical perspectives make it easier to continue ignoring this burgeoning health crisis and the individuals themselves.
聽As his website outlines, his approach is to depict the whole story, in order to give viewers courage to act in ways large and small. He believes the artist must not be afraid to show not only the fear, loss, and despair, but also the love, connection, dignity, and powerful humanity that always remain鈥攊n the subjects, care-partners, families, and communities. This is the path to evolve the narrative and have a positive social change, according to Wallace.
聽鈥淚 have always loved a good story,鈥� he wrote in a biographical statement. 鈥淭he last 15 years I鈥檝e been telling stories through photographs. My approach to photography applies a fine art sensibility to the journalist鈥檚 eye for storytelling. I love crafting an arresting visual narrative and feed off the spark of collaboration.鈥�
To read more on this ongoing project and compelling traveling exhibit, including how to participate by sharing a family story, visit聽.
University Communications | September 2021