Cyanotype: Workshops for people with early dementia

Abstract

The workshop "Cyanotype: Workshops for people with early dementia", carried out at the 5th International Conference on Health Humanities introduced the cyanotype. The cyanotype is a 19th century photographic technique that the research project used as a way for preventing the decline of faculties of people living with diseases that provoke memory loss. The activities carried out in the cyanotype workshop at the Conference were based on the creation of photographic images that could be intervened or complemented with other traditional art techniques. It was specially targeted at educators who want to develop an occupational therapy experience. This engaged the participants in activating their vision and developing their fine motor skills so as to create their own personal artwork. These aspects are important when applying this technique to groups living with dementia. The general aim of the workshops at the Conference was to develop the cyanotype as a resource for art educators or facilitators in experiences with people living with Alzheimer‘s disease or other early dementias.