Us Two Together

Graphic Medicine

by Ephameron, Michele Hutchison (Translator)

In this beautifully illustrated graphic novel, now translated into English from Dutch, artist Ephameron chronicles her father's losing battle with early-onset primary progressive aphasia (PPA)--a rare form of dementia that advanced slowly and left him unable to speak or to coordinate his thoughts and actions.

A moving sequence of paper collage illustrations layered under text depicts Ephameron's father's decline and her family's experience of caring for him. Compositional techniques combined with image, rhythm, and narrative work both to convey emotion and to frame illness in its context. Unlike other portrayals of dementia, Ephameron's does not shy away from portraying the brutality of the disease. Us Two Together is a poetic and melancholic depiction of how dementia slowly disintegrates a body.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Comics

232 pages, Hardcover

First published February 1, 2015

About the author

Ephameron explores a sensitive side of the world, where small and intimate dramas of life are documented. She works as an artist, teacher, editorial illustrator, curator, and author. Ephameron’s graphic novel about her father’s struggle with dementia — “Wij twee samen” (2015), translated as “Us Two Together” (2019) — was met with critical acclaim. The publication “re/collection” (2017) collects 320 pages from her travel diaries. “Nooit meer alleen” (2021) visualises experiences of early motherhood, and is part of her practice-based PhD in the Arts.

Reviews

[Moira Macfarlane · Rating 5 out of 5]

In dit autobiografisch verslag schrijf, tekent, knipt en plakt Ephameron over de laatste tien aangrijpende jaren van haar vader, die leed aan primaire progressieve afasie.

Alles wat er nog over is is een zoeken naar letters die een woord willen vormen. Maar welk woord ook alweer? Ook dat is kwijt. Een korte zin wordt een woord, alleen nog een reeks klanken en niets hangt meer samen. De samenhang van de dingen, tussen de dingen, tussen de dingen en dierbaren is zoek, verloren gegaan. Pijnlijk confronterend zijn zijn door haar overgeschreven dagboeknotities die ze verwerkte in dit beeldverhaal, het meest tastbare van zijn zoeken zichtbaar gemaakt.

Hoe krachtig en prachtig zijn haar beelden, hoe diep dringen ze in mijn door. Opnieuw.

'mijn vader is de taal kwijt

hij loopt verloren tussen klanken, vormen, kleuren

eerst kon hij nog lezen
toen sprak hij alleen in lettergrepen

nu zijn het losse klanken die hij uitstoot
waarbij hij ons ijverig toeknikt
huilt
of een oogje knipt en listig lacht'

[Elise Peeters · Rating 4 out of 5]

4,5
"papa zit gevangen in een leeg hoofd
woord voor woord viel alles eruit"

[Malou Vandevorst · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Papa viel te vroeg uiteen"

(Over taal verliezen, hoop verliezen, elkaar verliezen - in woord en beeld een parel om te "herherlezen")

[Abbey · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little confusing but I related because my father died but not of dementia

[Mips · Rating 5 out of 5]

Erg getroffen door dit intriest verhaal...

[Melissa Orth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dementia is a cruel disease, even more so when the form is early onset aphasia-the kind that steals your ability to communicate, read, speak or understand words. This is a deceptively simple presentation but it contains a deeper relationship between daughter and ailing father. Much like the disorder, the slow decline robs a person blind. It is only in seeing the chronological record that one sees how quickly the

[Jessica]

Simple, plain drawings with neutral colouring. I would say that I liked it, but I did feel it could have had more of a description. I'm thinking that some of the phrases and sounds could perhaps be lost through the translation, but I was struggling to understand and found some parts quite abstract. I appreciated the use of poetry a lot still, and the recognition of a cognitive decline.

[Zae · Rating 5 out of 5]

I felt everything throughout the pages. for a moment, i forgot i was reading a book. With the art perfectly curated every page, each page is truly an experience.

(I read this with my friend in a public space, I uncontrollably sobbed throughout the story.)

[Jeanette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful visual representation of a dad losing memories. Artwork is more expressive-not traditional comic style

[Shelby Blevins · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really effective look into dementia and aphasia.

[Diandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

heartbreaking, star of the show is really the mesmerizing layout of this book, so intentional with how much space its taking to slow your eyes down while reading. happy i got my hands on this

[Robin Angelo Yankin · Rating 5 out of 5]

https://youtu.be/yhAEmce0maI?si=sN3lo...

[Ruth Govaerts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Een gevoelig boek over een niet voor de hand liggend onderwerp. Geïllustreerd en geschreven door één van mijn docenten.