Description
This beautiful painting was kindly donated by the incredible Barbara Hulme. It is of world leading, fellow artist, Sarah Ezekiel. Barbara uses her work, and the conversations with subjects to make a positive difference. We think Barbara is truly inspirational. In her own words Barbara says:
“I am a disabled artist on a mission to empower disabled people and others. To achieve representation by painting personal, sensitive portraits of them in watercolour. Plus to help the general public realise that these health issues can happen to anyone through trauma, illness, accident or other reasons. My intention is to influence people to be more empathic and understanding and to give people with disabilities a voice”.
Background on subject – Sarah Ezekiel
Sarah Ezekiel was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease in 2000, at the age of 34.
Prior to this life changing moment she had studied art and history of art, but when she lost the use of her hands through MND, she believed that she would never create anything again. Tobii Dynavox eyegaze technology changed that, and she started painting using her eyes, art software and a Tobii PCEye in 2012. She has exhibited all over the UK, including the Royal Academy Schools, and also at the Katara Art Centre in Qatar.
Sarah is one of the world’s leading eyegaze and AI artists and has featured in national newspapers/magazines, on BBC Radio and the TV programmes, CNN Tech for Good, London Tonight and Inside Out.
Her use of assistive technology is extensive and she actively raises awareness of MND online and helps people in a similar position. She is Co-Chair of the NW London Branch of the MND Association and is also a Patron of the charity Lifelites, who provide life enhancing technology to children’s hospices. Sarah became The Third Sector Volunteer of the Year in 2016.
Sarah’s current project is ‘See Me/Hear Me: The Art of an Extraordinary Life’, is a live theatre production exploring the complex and fantastical imaginative inner world of being ‘locked-in’.
Directed by Sarah Ezekiel, a paralysed visual artist with Motor Neurone Disease (MND). She writes, storyboards, designs, and directs the piece using eye and chin movements.