Tremors vs Tremors:
This was a collaboration between individuals with Parkinson’s, UCL and Innocean Berlin focused on the intersection between mood, music and movements in Parkinson’s. We created a bespoke music album using tremor recordings and personal narratives to promote a better understanding of the variable nature of the condition and help ways to provide relief for symptoms. It was released on World Brain Day in March 2024, resulting in significant media coverage (BBC, ITV, The Times, Today Program, The Royal Society Summer Festival, The Lancet Neurology (Parkinson’s disease is not just a tremor. Volume 23, Issue 9, 870)), with over 200k streams to date. Royalties from the album are donated to Parkinson’s UK.
Check out the project here: Tremors vs. Tremors
Listen to the tracks here:
Other coverage here:
Patterns of Perception:
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a common, age-related neurodegenerative condition. In the UK, two people are diagnosed with PD every hour. There is a major discrepancy between what people think Parkinson’s disease is, and the actual experience living with the condition. Furthermore, there is substantial variability in the symptoms experienced between individuals, both in presentation and progression, with many being invisible to the naked eye. Bridging this disconnect would help individuals with PD, their families and professionals who help care for the condition. As one participant said:
“Everyone experiences PD differently; I wish I knew what this meant earlier. I thought it was that we all take different roads to the same destination, but in reality, the destinations are all different too”
Patterns of Perception aimed to find better ways of communicating this to a broader audience and provide an insight into life lived with Parkinson’s. It was a collaboration between a group of individuals with Parkinson’s, Central Saint Martins, English National Ballet, UCL and artist Ruairiadh O’Connell. We ran a series of workshops ranging from textiles to dance and art to explore the experience of Parkinson’s, and participants created visual diaries to reflect on their daily lives.
Interweaving science, dance and visual arts, the project culminated in a four month public exhibition at Central Saint Martins (normal footfall ~5000 people per day, https://www.arts.ac.uk/colleges/central-saint-martins/whats-on-at-csm/window-galleries/patterns-of-perception) and the English National Ballet, and a seven minute film documenting the initiative: