Louise Burrows

This past year has been hard for everyone. But for people with a disability or a chronic illness, not much has changed. They cannot always go out and see friends or stay out all day without pushing themselves too far. Often, they rely on people coming to them and adapting their plans around them. This lockdown has given us all an insight into their life, which is spent mostly in their homes and unable to see people. While we look forward to returning to normal, some people will still be living a limited life.

Louise Burrows has spent time creating artwork about people who inspire her. One in particular was her aunt, who has multiple chronic illnesses and is wheelchair bound. She has had to change many aspects of her life due to her illnesses but is always optimistic and happy about what she does have. Louise was introduced to the concept of ‘Spoonies’, a theory used to help others understand what life is like with chronic illness, where spoons represent how much energy you have. Some days you have lots of spoons, some days you only have a few. She used her aunt’s collection of spoons as the basis of the painting, as she has many from different places or decorated by children in her family.

This painting is for all ‘spoonies’, to remind them they are not alone and to remind others what life can be like for those we do not see.

Instagram: www.instagram.com/louiseburrows.art/