AN arresting exhibition of carers’ portraits, 24 hours, will be opened by John Swinney MSP in the Garden Lobby of the Scottish Parliament on Tuesday 18 September.
24 hours is a series of portraits of carers, each one showing the carer seated on the sofa in their own home alongside the person they care for. In some portraits, it is impossible to tell who is the carer and who is the cared for person; in others, it is very obvious.
The portraits were taken by Hannah Hills, a rising young star in portrait photography, one of whose portraits was exhibited in the National Portrait Gallery in 2005.
Every portrait has a brief explanation alongside, using the carer’s own words to explain their caring role. In one portrait, both of those pictured are carers. Nan is blind and the carer for her granddaughter, Brenda, who has learning difficulties. Brenda is 16 and has been a carer for her grandmother ever since she can remember. Nan says: “We’re a team: Brenda is my eyes and I’m her brains. She does for me what I can’t do sightwise and I help her thinking.”
All the portraits have been reproduced in an art quality catalogue, which will accompany the exhibition as it tours Scotland. The catalogue includes a foreword by HRH The Princess Royal, President of The Princess Royal Trust for Carers, who says: ‘Carers need recognition so that they can access the support which will enable them to continue to care without compromising their own health and wellbeing.’
This is Hannah Hills’ first solo exhibition and she is delighted to open at the heart of government. She says: “Since undertaking this project I have met some amazing people.”
MEDIA RELEASE issued by The Princess Royal Trust for Carers. You too can post your media releases on allmediascotland; for more information, email here.
Contact: Patricia Hess
Phone: 0141 221 5066 or 07 946 424 127
Email: phess@carers.org
Website: http://www.carers.org
