Scottish-born artist Lorraine Robson creates beautiful hand-crafted ceramic vessels and sculpture from her studio near Linlithgow.

Her installation Hit Me Shake Me Blow Me created especially for Collect Open 2020 and funded by National Lottery though Creative Scotland comprises slip-cast multiple elements designed to invite engagement through the tactile quality of the work and the provocative title – this is to encourage intrigue and discussion to raise dementia awareness and particularly to highlight the positive effect of cognitive thinking through creativity for those suffering from dementia.

All the individual ceramic maracas have glazed blood red interiors; a reference to Vascular Dementia. Even though the colour red cannot be seen it is there hidden from view. A reminder to continue to engage and communicate with those with dementia diagnosis and limited cognitive function, the personality still alive.

As with all Robson’s work she tackles difficult, often ugly subjects by presenting objects of great sophistication and perfection, in this case a replica of a simple musical instrument borrowed from a care home and arranged to suggest a hidden, undecipherable language. With the original function removed, she intends this ambiguity to encourage discussion and debate.