I Am Not the Cancer is a video and sound installation made with women from across Europe with advanced (metastatic) breast cancer. Originally commissioned as a one-off installation for an event in Brussels to mark the launch of an ABC awareness campaign, the piece was so compelling that patient support groups across Europe commissioned bespoke versions in their own countries. It was shown, in varying configurations, in 9 European capitals and in Dubai, with the final exhibition inside the European Parliament building in Brussels.
Staged in a darkened environment, the audio for each of the 6 video channels was directed in a narrow beam of audio to a single chair in front of the screen. A subtle very low frequency composition created an immersive, concentrated atmosphere that was felt more than heard.
Cancer not only affects the body but also encroaches on one’s sense of identity; the title of the piece came from the Dutch participant Tootje, who said, “I have cancer, but I am not the cancer. I am Tootje."
