THERAPEUTIC LANDSCAPES: Paintings on Living with ME/CFS. 31 July - 31 August 2025
SQUARE EDGE ARTS CENTRE47 The Square, Palmerston North 

Opening night Friday August 1st 5pm Detail of painting from participant 'Kara'. Oil on MDF. 

This exhibition is generously funded by ANZMES. 

This series of paintings illustrates features of therapeutic home-spaces from five people in Aotearoa who live with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis / Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS). This exhibition is an opportunity to disseminate research findings from my Masters project to the community and share insight and stories from those who are predominantly housebound due to living with ME/CFS.

Further resources for education on ME/CFS will be available at the exhibition. 

Opening Night - August 1st @ 5pm will be an opportunity to talk with me, the artist, researcher, and someone who has lived experience of CFS. A member/s of ANZMES will also be present to support the education experience of the opening night. Drinks and nibbles will be provided. 
Therapeutic Landscapes is a concept for looking at how environments foster elements of healing or therapeutic experiences in relation to ones health outcomes. These paintings were created from a research focus on exploring how elements of the home-space as being experienced as therapeutic in relation to one's ME/CFS symptoms. The stories alongside these paintings provide insight into these experiences and bring forward stories we do not commonly hear but also provides values insight into how we can better support those who are housebound by ME/CFS and the helpful features of their home as their primary site of care. These insights are value to informing the general public and increasing awareness and understanding for this illness, but is equally helpful to health professionals who may be working with people with ME/CFS or other chronic illnesses. 

The exhibition will be running for a full month, so there is plenty of time to view the paintings during a quieter time. I can be contacted via email if you have any questions regarding the research or want further information on ME/CFS.