Brussels, 26/01/2015 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 27 January, Emma McClarkin MEP (ECR, United Kingdom) will inaugurate a European Parliament exhibition highlighting the daily lives of women suffering from the advanced stages of breast cancer. The exhibition is called “I Am Not The Cancer” and was put together by the artists John Wynne and Tim Wainwright.
Its aim is to get the public thinking and provoke a reaction to this disease because current treatment has helped to extend life expectancy and improve the daily lives of cancer sufferers. Emma McClarkin explained that although medicine has made significant progress treating this kind of cancer, “We must not forget those in advanced stages of the disease. The needs of those patients and what can be done to improve their lives and that of their family and carers must guide our thinking and action. This art installation is a reminder for us all that each day is precious and valuable for these women”. The MEP said that she hoped that by showing this thought-provoking, experimental work, “we can make the advanced breast cancer patient group visible and unite women and the breast cancer community in the fight against the disease”.
The exhibition mixes videos and soundtracks broadcasting the often moving testimonies in an idea that seeks to create a platform of shared experiences between the patient community and public at large. One of the artists, John Wynne, explained “We created this installation to enable individuals to tell their stories-people whose expenses might otherwise have been overlooked and whose voices might not have been heard. Each woman's contribution is unique and compelling”. The exhibition has already been shown in seven member states (Belgium, Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Poland, Portugal and the United Kingdom), as well as in Switzerland and Dubai. It can be seen at the European Parliament until Thursday 29 January. (IL)