Journal of IiME Volume 9 Issue 1 May 2015 Using Art to Raise Awareness of ME Art has the power to inspire, to evoke reflection, to see things differently, to force change. An image can capture a thousand words and express views and feelings and convey a sentiment often far better than several pages of words. Wolfgang Stiller is an award-winning German artist who currently lives and works in Berlin. Wolfgang has kindly given permission for his matchstick images to be used for raising awareness of ME. Wolfgang's original and inspired art now allows us to launch the Matchstick Campaign for ME Awareness. Janet Smart and the Let's Do It For ME team have added a slogan for each image and, in turn, IiME has developed a brochure featuring these images and describing what the charity and our supporters are doing. Wolfgang has used a common, everyday item which is often ignored, used and discarded Invest in ME (Charity Nr. 1114035) www.investinme.org Page 43 of 57 by most people, and turned it into a message which makes one pause and think. These striking images are used to highlight the situation in which people with ME have found themselves. The parallels with the way ME patients have been treated over the years are obvious. To continue to raise awareness throughout the year these wonderful and searching images will hopefully cause people to reflect on the waste of life which has been, and is occurring with regard to this disease. Yet they will also offer hope that things will change, will improve and serve to highlight that from the ashes of ignorance and apathy will come a better time and patients will regain their health. Each of the images carries a message - and this message has been related to the work that Invest in ME (Research) and supporters are carrying out. Copies of brochure and posters available from Invest in ME – info@investinme.org
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