Barbara Adams

Justin Bailey

Debbie Ayles

Artist's Webpage

Debbie Ayles, Enigma, acrylic on canvas, 2000. © 2005 Debbie Ayles (http://www.colchesteropenstudios.org/artists/02.php, October 10,2003)

"I think when this particular visual patterning [i.e. coloured kaleidoscopic hallucinations] first occurred, my art changed... I think from then on I started to realise what I was doing was related to my migraine... I continued constructing the image as before, but now used the said colour scheme which made its first appearance in a series of pictures which I called 'Enigma'. The 'Enigma' paintings evolved from the phenomema that I was experiencing at the time, which I found both beautiful to behold yet terrifying because of their connection with the pain of a recurrent migraine. I was consumed by the confusion and lack of understanding of them but also the need to recreate these 'visions', and the titles allowed me to hide behind them without admitting from where they came."

(Email to Klaus Podoll, January 12, 2002; additions in square brackets by Klaus Podoll)

"No, I was in fact unaware that de Chirico used the 'Enigma' titles until you told me!"

(Email to Klaus Podoll, August 4, 2002)

"Migraine in Art. Colchester Institute mature student, Debbie Ayles, has just completed her final year of a BA (Hons) Art and Design course. As a migraine sufferer, Debbie was inspired by the colours and effects experienced during an attack and these are depicted in her paintings. Debbie joined the Migraine Action Association two years ago and discovered 'migraine art' at a collection in Corby. She later met German neurologist, Dr Klaus Podoll, and has worked with him looking at the link between migraine and visual art. They have just had a research paper accepted by RS Medicine.

Colchester Institute is currently exhibiting students' work within the art department and is open to the public this week. Debbie Ayles will be available most days to talk visitors through her exhibit of light boxes and paintings, along with images of sufferers seeking relief. Ms Ayles is in the process of organising two exhibitions, one of which is hoped to be part of the Migraine Art 2002 Competition. Following completion of her degree, she is also looking to return to full-time work and would like to be involved with 'art marketing'."

(Lost webpage http://www.colch-inst.ac.uk/main.cfm?Zone= a&Page =a51&ID=107, June 18, 2002)

Debbie Ayles, Farewell to M.R., mixed media (80.5 x 90 cm), 2002. © 2005 Visual Associations (October 1, 2003)

"This was painted as one of elements of a 'migraine installation' at the School of Art and Design, Colchester 2002. It shows the fragmentation and dislocation of familiar personal images and is rendered in bright primary colours. There are more elements within than can be see at first glance."

(From the artist's website, October 1, 2003)

"concepts, ideas and themes - I create abstract images of intricate shapes and colour to visualise some of the migraine phenomena I have experienced. Using my environment as source material - a conventional theme such as a still life is altered or fragmented. Still retaining something of the original, the image changes into something chaotic and confusing, the colour becomes stunning and overpowering. Shapes appear, disappear. Image, content and narrative are distorted. Nothing is quite as it seams. Farewell to M.R., Poole II and Mirosa 5 are images influenced by this. Slowly the familiar world has dislocated into mosaics. Beautiful coloured shapes flow into the visual plane, pulse forward, recede and move about. You are drawn into this kaleidoscope of strong greens and blues, reds, pinks oranges and yellow, finally subsiding into monochrome. A wonderful private picture show for just you to view.

processes and techniques - By overlaying and deconstructing images I investigate effects of line and colour with the use of succulent acrylics. Computer manipulation of original drawings and photographs complements the physical and manual process of looking for an interpretation of shapes and images through these strange phenomena.

influences and aims - Out there, millions of people have different experiences of migraine. I aim to show through my images that when the agony is over, energy, positiveness, enthusiasm and serenity return. This renewed spirit and clarity gives me inspiration. My images have been compared to Op Art as they play tricks on the eye. I have been influenced by the rigid structure and illusions of Bridget Riley but also the patterning of Klimt, Schiele and Klee. I am currently investigating a more subtle palette and also the manipulation of existing paintings such as Le Dejeuner sur l'Herbe by Manet to render them more as images that I might see or understand. I am also researching into the affect of migraine on other artists and their work. I have co-written two papers published on the subject, one in the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, August 2002."

(From the artist's website, October 1, 2003)

"My paintings reflect my migraine experiences and are conveyed in bright strong colours with a content that can be purely abstract or semi-representational. My on-going research into visual perception is beginning to have more of an effect on my own work. This is manifesting itself as an altered colour range. I am also experimenting with monochromic affects and a greater emphasis on line. As I have always used drawing to analyse my motifs and plan my paintings I feel these can be developed as works in their own right. I use the landscape and my own environment in my images and respond to them in and individual manner. I investigate with shape and line sometimes to conceal the source, sometimes to raise it to another level. Some images become geometric repetitive patterns others grow into organic flows. My work is beginning to reflect a more representational approach which is an exciting progression from my previous methodology of abstracting images from a representational drawing. This year I had my painting 'Jesmond Barn' shortlisted out of 1900 original entries for the prestigious John Moores Open Competition at the Walker, Liverpool. Although not selected for the final stage (56 chosen from 425), I am satisfied that it caught the eye of the selector and it has renewed my enthusiasm in the pursuance of the search for and painting of images that are rewarding to me and give me such pleasure in creating."

(From the artist's webpage at Wolsey Art Gallery website, March 23, 2005)

References

Anonymous. Inspired student suffers for her art. East Anglian Daily Times, June 22, 2002.
Anonymous. Migraine Art. Migraine News, Spring 2005, 13.
Ayles D, Nicola U, Podoll K. Cosa si prova ad avere un'emicrania: 'Mig Installation', un'opera multimodale di Debbie Ayles. [What it is like to have a migraine: Debbie Ayles multimedia 'Mig Installation'. In Italian.] Confinia Cephalalgica 2004; 13: 109-118.
Nicola U, Podoll K. L'aura di Giorgio de Chirico. Arte emicranica e pittura metafisica. Mimesis, Milano 2003, p. 64, 72-73.
Podoll K, Ayles D. Inspired by migraine: Sarah Raphael's 'Strip!' paintings. J Roy Soc Med 2002; 95: 417-419.
Podoll K, Robinson D, Ayles D, Nicola U. Le allucinazioni caleidoscopiche come sintomo visivo dell'aura emicranica. [Kaleidoscopic hallucinations as visual aura symptom in migraine. In Italian.] Confinia Cephalalgica 2002; 12: 53-63.
Sims R. Dust is washed from our souls! Essex County, July 5, 2002, 26.

Author: Klaus Podoll
Last modification of this page: Monday March 28. 2005

Barbara Adams

Justin Bailey

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