ABSTRACT

The installation Re-Framing, is a collaborative piece co-designed with service users of the local charity, Brain Injury Matters NI.  The installation is a visual representation and communication of the journey of change and rehabilitation after acquired brain injury. ‘Re-framing' is reconfigured to suit each new location and to communicate various aspects for living with acquired brain injury.  In its current iteration the installation represents a person living with acquired brain injury. 

During the workshops a method was developed to create origami ‘brains’.  The installation consists of over 2500 pieces of paper shaped as origami brains formed by people who had differing physical and cognitive impairments associated with their brain injury. Origami brains are placed in a way to create a colourful domino effect, representing a person’s identity.  The sequence of colour is interrupted by a block of colour, representing a trauma. 

The meaning of colour was discussed at length during the making sessions.  The participants selected bright colours to dominate the piece, representing positive memories and experiences.  Black is omitted as it was thought to be a negative colour as it was discussed that there is no room for negatively when reframing life - only moving forward.  White is absent as the group believed this colour represents the immediate period of time post trauma, when you are making peace with your deficits but before committing to reframing your life.

This section contains images of the final installation, images of members of Brain Injury Matters who came to visit during the PhD Festival and a video of the installation supported by fellow researchers from BSoA.

Photography Courtesy of Doctoral College, Ulster University