The disease epilepsy as a theme for art

Epilepsy is a disease that, apart from causing medical problems, can also greatly influence, and even shape, the family, professional, leisure and social lives of the epileptic patient – above all, when medication fails to provide a reliable freedom from seizures. A seizure that occurs within a group of relatives or friends, or at school or work, can provoke emotions and reactions in those who witness it, which can range from irritation to fear, from sympathy to rejection – even if no other signs of disease or handicap are present in the affected individual.

In his ceramic piece, "Falling Sickness", created in 1983, Bodo Wentz translated the two fundamental facets of epilepsy in an artistically effective manner.

First, the medical aspect: One side of the piece features the place of origin of the disease, namely the brain, with its typical folded surface structure; the epileptic is seen lying in the "rigid" phase of a major seizure on top of this organ, his right arm protruding out from the substrate that is responsible for his disease – the convolutions of the brain.

Then the psychosocial aspect: On the other side of the ceramic sculpture (about 18 cm high), the artist portrays epilepsy symbolically as a cause of exclusion, social isolation and loneliness – "Retreating Into One's Shell".

Fortunately, there has been a clear improvement over the past years and decades with respect to information, acceptance, familiarity and assistance concerning epilepsy and those affected by it – above all as a result of medical progress, but not least also because of the work of the numerous regional and supraregional epilepsy self-help groups. Nevertheless, the dangers of social marginalisation and of professional and social disadvantage still exist for epileptics. For this reason, works such as "Falling Sickness" by the artist Bodo Wentz are important both as information and as reminders.