Works of 80-year-old who took pottery, art lessons as part of dementia therapy to be showcased in Ipoh

Irene John @ Kanga Thavi started off drawing and took up pottery in 2020 just after she was diagnosed with dementia. — Photograph by Farhan Najib

By Sylvia Looi

Tuesday, 14 Jun 2022 4:13 PM MYT

IPOH, June 14 — It has been a great daily life for 80-yr-old Irene John @ Kanga Thavi.

Starting up out as a nurse, she afterwards travelled all over the globe doing work in hotels prior to returning to Ipoh in 2007.

Everyday living nevertheless decided to throw a curve ball when she was identified with dementia two many years back in January.

She originally signed up with at a dementia centre to master how to offer with the situation and to slow down its development.

Then her partner and caregiver Peter J. Bucher gained about the outcomes of songs and artwork to stimulate her brain.

Now, twice a 7 days, she attends pottery and artwork classes, each lasting two and a 50 % hrs.

Bucher said he acquired about tunes and artwork can assistance dementia individuals throughout a discuss organised by College of Tasmania.

“Thanks to a friend, he linked me with the teachers Alice Ng and Ng Sook Peng,” he claimed.

Talking to Malay Mail, Bucher said Irene’s expertise flourished under Alice and Sook Peng’s direction.

To day, Irene has manufactured 20 pottery pieces and 25 artwork items, with every single perform taking about three months to complete.

“Seeing her do the job, Alice prompt that we do an exhibition to showcase her get the job done and as a sort of recognition for her tough perform,” he explained.

Aptly named the Dancing with Dementia art festival, Irene’s functions will be showcased at the celebration to be held at the Black Home @ Port Ipoh, Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah from June 23 to 26 from 10am to 5pm.

There will also be a pottery workshop on June 24 and 26 from 10am to 12.30pm and inventive artwork workshop on June 23 and 25 from 10am to 1.30pm.

It will be facilitated by Sook Peng and Alice respectively.

Bucher meanwhile is achieving out to any cafe that is eager to host dementia clients two times a thirty day period.

“The strategy for this sort of a cafe started out in Europe 25 decades back in which dementia clients and their caregivers can meet.”

“The cafe we are looking for preferably should really have a nostalgic environment and simple entry. We can have things to do at the cafe to create awareness on dementia.”

For details on the exhibition, Whatsapp Nardhirah (+60124280184) though cafes willing to do the job with Bucher can speak to him by using Whatsapp at +60195743572.

Requested how she felt two a long time in the past when she was to start with identified with dementia and how she feels now, Irene stated she did request herself then, why she was the only a person in her family of 10 siblings affected by the condition.

“But now I am living my everyday living to the fullest by pottery, painting, shell-collage and songs.”