Hero photograph
Marion Wassenaar, Ties That Bind, detail 2017, mixed media
 
Photo by Dunedin School of Art

Ties that bind

Marion Wassenaar —

Artist Marion Wassenaar teamed up with scientist Tanya Major to explore the suffering caused by gout.

Gout is a serious health problem in Aotearoa, New Zealand. An increasing number of (mainly) New Zealand Māori and Pacific Island men are affected, with South Auckland now regarded as "the gout capital of the world". The gout sufferer must deal with the physical pain and disability of gout attacks, whilst also being confronted with feelings of self-blame and shame for their gout diagnosis, which is reinforced by the lack of understanding from the general public, who see gout as an easily avoidable condition associated with an indulgent lifestyle. The Art and Genetics collaborative project in 2017 was an opportunity to engage with the community in a new, creative way and spread the message that gout is a genetic disease that can be treated.

Tanya Major and her colleagues in the Merriman Laboratory (Department of Biochemistry) at the University of Otago are identifying the specific genes that are associated with gout and sharing these findings with gout patients and the general public. Tanya's aim is to understand how these genes cause gout, and how they might change a person's symptoms or response to treatment, with the goal of improving the lives of people with gout.

Marion Wassenaar, an artist and lecturer at Otago Polytechnic's Dunedin School of Art, worked with Tanya Major for the Art and Genetics project. The artwork, Ties That Bind, seeks to address the notion of alienation stemming from the lack of understanding about gout, that reflects a sympathetic and personal response to the research. Ties That Bind consists of four framed works which layer glass and transparent screen-printed images.

Marion also produced giveaway screenprinted posters which conveyed the message "GOUT IS IN YOUR GENES. Why DON'T we talk about it... why don't WE talk about it." Raising awareness of gout's causes and treatment options is essential to reducing the substantial burden it places on patients, their families, and communities in New Zealand.

Read the full article and other articles about Art and Genetics works in Junctures journal.

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