Valerie Laws
Slicing the Brain: Audio-visual animated poetry sequence
Poetry, including a new form, from personal experience informed by scientific research during Residencies at Gordon Pathology Museum, London and Kings College London (funded by Wellcome Trust) and at Newcastle University’s Institute for Ageing and Health (funded by Changing Age). Four of the poems are included in All That Lives, her new CSI: Poetry collection.
The Incredible Shrinking Brain ‘shrinks’ in a seven part sequence, the changing form and meaning mirroring the process of dementia. Even dementia has moments of joy!
Slices of Brain scientifically depicts dementia’s manifestations, from work with Professor Robert Perry.
Senior Last Moments accurately narrates the outward process of dementia, remembering the essential person inside.
In the dissection room: celebrates the strength, dignity and beauty of the old, dead body.
April Fools challenges stereotypes about disability and ageing, celebrating the endurance and contribution of age.
Valerie Laws is a poet, performer, sci-art installation specialist, and playwright. She invents new forms of poetry and devises science-themed poetry installations and commissions including the infamous Quantum Sheep, an Arts Council-funded project spray-painting random haiku onto live sheep. Her next quantum haiku on inflatable beach balls featured in BBC2 TV’s Why Poetry Matters, with Griff Rhys Jones and live at Royal Festival Hall. Poetry animations which move and change to reflect their subjects have featured in public exhibitions in London and Newcastle, and her electronically-illuminated poetry commission Window of Art is permanently exhibited at KIC, St Thomas Hospital. Her new 'CSI:Poetry' book All That Lives arises from Residencies at Gordon Pathology Museum and King’s College London Medical School, and at Newcastle University’s Institute for Ageing and Health, working with neuroscientists and pathologists,and now at Dilston Physic Garden focusing on brain-altering plants. Her other 10 books include poetry, crime fiction, comedy, language and drama. Many prizes and awards, including Wellcome Trust Arts Award, twice prize winner in National Poetry competition, two Northern Writers Awards. Twelve plays commissioned for stage and BBC radio. Many residencies, including in Egypt. She performs her work extensively live and in the media.
