A series of photographs taken in July 2018 at the day Centre “Il Nodo”, situated at the feet of the Italian Pennines in the central Region of Abruzzo, explore the day to day life in an Italian dementia care home. Stemming from the research experience in the field of dementia social and health care of Alessandro Bosco and Dr Claudio Di Lorito, the latest exhibition at the Institute captures the beauty of the every day.

While visiting their native region in Italy in summer 2018, Alessandro and Claudio learned about a group of committed and talented professionals who, despite the lack of public funding and amidst numerous challenges, provide opportunities for engagement and inclusion to people with dementia living in the isolated rural areas of Abruzzo. Their inspiring work prompted Alessandro and Claudio to contact a local freelance photographer, Laura Conti, and portray, through her artistic vision and mastery in the arts of photography, the daily routine in the day centre “Il Nodo”.

“Il Nodo” offers a number of recreational and occupational activities and programmes, both individual and in a group format, aimed at promoting social inclusion and preserving a sense of identity among people with dementia. At “Il Nodo”, the artists witnessed and committed to portray all facets of life with dementia.

Confident that the negative and positive feelings celebrated in the exhibition including frustration, melancholy, apathy, and joy are common to all individuals and that the audience will easily relate to the protagonists, the ultimate message that the artists convey is one of unity and connectedness among all human beings, beyond geographical distance and dementia.

The exhibition opened to the public from 1^st November 2019 – 10^th January 2020, Monday – Friday, 10am  - 4pm at The Institute of Mental Health, Triumph Road, Nottingham.

A special launch event was held on Friday 1st November, and both Alessandro and Claudio spoke about their work, alongside a performance from the dementia-friendly Blue Skies Singing Group.