Cure3: making art for Parkinson’s research

Global update

Author: Saskia MairPublished: 13 August 2020

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Cure3 calls for artists to create an original piece of work in a Perspex cube – all in the name of Parkinson’s research. We find out more about the focus of this year’s fundraising exhibition


The third edition of the Cureexhibition, which raises money for UK charity Cure Parkinson’s Trust, brings together original artwork from 80 renowned international artists – and, in a special addition to this year’s event, creations from 11 fashion designers.

This year’s line-up sees top designers including Roksanda Ilinčić, Giles Deacon and Monika Dugar joining artists like Conrad Shawcross, Ron Arad, Rana Begum, Annie Morris and Idris Khan, in raising funding for Parkinson’s research.

The selling exhibition, which will take place from 5-8 September this year, challenges artists to create a new piece of artwork in a bespoke Perspex cube, which measures just 20cm3. This format is inspired by the ‘boxed in’ feeling of the condition, described by Cure Parkinson’s Trust founder, Tom Isaacs.

Since its launch in 2017, the project has raised more than £750,000. The Cureteam hope to reach £1m of fundraising through artwork sales, alongside profits from a specially designed scarf created by heritage brand, Richard Allan London.

“It is about representing the hope that one-day we will be able to find a cure”

Some of the Cureartists cite a personal connection to the condition as a reason for taking part in the exhibition.

Award-winning designer Giles Deacon says: “I mainly work with charities that have a personal resonance and due to the fact that I have three close friends with Parkinson’s, it gives the initiative added meaning.”

Giles Deacon

Designer Giles Deacon, with his Cure3 cube.

Bouke de Vries, who specialises in ceramics and porcelain, says his partner’s Parkinson’s motivated him to take part: “Anything I can do to work towards a cure is my duty.”

Artist Mali Morris, who has designed a cube containing a colourful concertina of paper, created her piece in memory of her father, sister-in-law, and friend John McLean, who all had Parkinson’s.

Mali Morris

Artist Mali Morris, with her design.

Other artists have created pieces inspired by the condition itself. “I began thinking about the cube and that I might make a coloured box of wool,” says contemporary artist and sculptor, Andy Goldsworthy. “I just grabbed a lump of fleece and rammed it into the box not really knowing what to expect. The transformation was extraordinary. It was like looking into another world. Afterwards I remembered that the farmer who owns the sheep around my home has Parkinson’s.”

Fashion designer Roksanda Ilinčić, took a different approach, working with textiles to reflect her thoughts on the future of Parkinson’s treatment.

“Using the specially designed print, the fabric has been moulded into the abstract shape of a brain to signify a perfectly functioning mind with all the creative thoughts and ideas represented through the contrasting colours and patterns. It is about representing the hope that one day we will be able to find a cure for Parkinson’s.”

Find out more about Cure3

For a limited time before the exhibition, some of the Cureartwork will be on display in the windows of London department store Fenwick. Cubes created for the exhibition will be available to buy on its website from 8am, 8 September and will also be displayed at Bonhams, an auction house in London, UK.


Read more:

Meet the fashion graduate designing adaptive clothing for people with Parkinson’s

Parkinson’s Portrayed: real stories reflected through art

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