Local to be honoured at World Parkinson Congress in Japan

AN HONEST and thought-provoking artwork created by a local Parkinson’s disease activist at a community group session will be displayed and honoured at the fifth World Parkinson Congress (WPC) in Kyoto, Japan this June.

Michael ‘Mike’ Atkinson was experiencing what he describes as a “Parky day” when he was attending a Painting with Parkinson’s (PWP) class at Spring Creek Community House.

Feeling deflated by his condition and unable to continue the painting he was trying to progress with, Mr Atkinson took a new expressive direction.

“I immediately painted over it with a black wash and proceeded to paint in white watercolour all of my Parkinson’s feelings,” he said.

“Parkinson’s is the most stupid disease – it’s unpredictable and has no consistency. Some days I get up and feel perfectly OK, I can get out and about and do the grocery shopping. But the next day, I can hardly move. It’s like a cloud over your head, a depression sort of thing.”

Mr Atkinson’s artwork titled “No Parky” includes words such as slow, cold, stiff, tremor, fatigue, constipation, confused and shakes, just some of the mental challenges and debilitating symptoms he’s forced to endure on a day-to-day basis.

Known for throwing out his creations soon after completion, PWP coordinator and art therapist Janelle Da Silva encouraged Mr Atkinson to keep his powerful artwork and share it beyond the classroom.

“When I saw Mike’s painting, I thought it was an absolutely brilliant piece of work that’s so incredibly honest,” she said.

“I always tell the group that it’s important to find honesty in whatever they’re doing, and that it’s not about the finished product, but the process.

“I just thought this is so telling – vulnerable, challenging and compelling. The fact that it’s simple with no frills makes it even more relatable for other sufferers.”

Named as a WPC 2019 ambassador alongside Young @ Park founder Karyn Spilberg, the pair will join 14 other ambassadors from 13 countries to share their stories and raise awareness for the incurable condition.

Mr Atkinson will also bring another artwork created by the PWP group which features tulips, a motif used by many Parkinson’s organisations worldwide.

Interested in attending? Phone Mike on 0409 545 443 or email [email protected].