Cavaliero Finn Presents: Brain Tumour Book - Artist Leah Jensen’s Journey Through Cancer Diagnosis to Treatment: The Fitzrovia Chapel, Fitzroy Place, 2 Pearson Square, London

Through intricate embroidered stitch-work and layered imagery, Leah transforms her vulnerability into visual poetry, offering visitors to the exhibition a window into her process of fear, resilience, acceptance, and hope. A series of artworks will be available for sale to raise funds for The Brain Tumour Charity, Leah's chosen charity.  

 

DONATE HERE TO RAISE FUNDS FOR THIS CHARITABLE EXHIBITION AND THE BRAIN TUMOUR CHARITY

In September 2020 Leah was unable to focus and lost her ability to speak at work. She was rushed to hospital where they discovered an aggressive brain tumour.

 

During her long stay in hospital, Leah faced her fears and started to reflect on life and death. Being largely bedridden, she was unable to work with clay, a medium for which she is critically acclaimed. Instead, she turned to embroidery, or drawing with thread, to help her process the complex emotions she was experiencing.

 

 

 

Every emotion, thought, memory and feeling has been captured in her deeply personal Brain Tumour Book that is still ongoing, as she deals with a potentially uncertain future. Each check-up and brain scan she goes for brings a sense of dread but Leah has such a calm sense of acceptance and positivity that shines through her work which articulates the ups and downs of her life-changing diagnosis.

 

Alongside the presentation of Leah’s Brain Tumour book will be a limited edition print (edition of 80) taken from the book to raise funds for the Brain Tumour Charity and raise awareness of how the illness affects those dealing with it. Leah is well aware of others going through the same situation and is sensitive to how her work will be viewed by them. She is clear she doesn’t want to invoke any fear from this show and intends to imbue honesty and hope in her work.

Also featuring in the exhibition will be a clay vessel that Leah created during what must have been the early onset of her tumour, at a time when she was having severe headaches. Normally, a specific renaissance painting is a starting point for the work but in this case, she has no memory of making this vessel and she has no idea of the source of inspiration for it. This ‘mystery pot’ stands as testament to a major change in her life and health. 

In addition to producing the book, the artist has also developed a series of quilts and an embroidered pillow both of which will be on display at the exhibition. There will also be a collection of embroidered handkerchiefs on show. Leah has collected these over her lifetime and they feature some of the artist’s one-off embroidered drawings and artworks. These will be available for sale alongside the limited edition print to raise funds for the Brain Tumour Charity.

 

Cavaliero Finn has also produced a film that recounts Leah's experiences throughout her diagnosis and treatment. The film was made in conjunction with Leah and Elastic Pie Films  which will also be on show at the exhibition.  And, for those of you that can't make it to the show (or can't wait to see it) you can watch this incredibly moving film online now, simply scroll down or click the video link in the header of this exhibition page.  We are immensely grateful to Elastic Pie Films and to Leah for making this film, it truly is a work of art.

 

 

This exhibition is free to attend and Leah will be at the show to give a talk and a tour on the following dates so do please come along:

• Saturday 18th April at 2pm
• Thursday 23rd April at 1pm
• Friday 24th April at 1pm
• Saturday 25th April at 2pm

 

Thank you for taking the time to read about this exhibition, we understand that times are tough for a lot of people so if you can't donate you can stil help to support this project by visiting the show and by sharing this exhibition page or the crowdfunder link above, it all helps.  

 

Leah, Juliana and I  very much look forward to seeing you at the exhibition.