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"Beyond the Visible" Art Exhibit Raises Awareness of Acute Hepatic Porphyria in Italy
September 14, 2019
Alnylam Pharmaceuticals
This past weekend, "Beyond the Visible," a first of its kind exhibition of original works of art created by a group of graphic design and art students from the New Academy of Fine Arts (NABA) in Milan, Italy, was unveiled at the International Congress on Porphyrins and Porphyrias (ICPP) 2019. This exhibition was conceived and made possible by Alnylam.
In all, the exhibition contains 17 original works of art.
The exhibition aims to raise awareness about acute hepatic porphyria (AHP), a rare genetic disease which causes unpredictable, frustratingly ‘invisible’ and debilitating pain. The collection of thought-provoking works of art illustrate the daily difficulties faced by those living with the disease, bringing to life the toll of these symptoms and emotional impact.
Professor Maria Domenica Cappellini, Honorary President of ICPP, chose the winning pieces from the exhibition and presented them alongside the students during the opening ceremony of the ICPP congress on Sunday, September 8.
Patients and healthcare professionals attending the congress were able to view a full virtual catalogue of the exhibition in the ICPP congress app. A sampling of the full catalog appears in this article. In the months following the congress, the exhibition will travel around Italy to help create greater awareness of AHP.
We are VERY proud to sponsor this exhibition. Our hope is that the unique collection of art will encourage the broader community at ICPP – and soon, around Italy – to learn more about AHP so that there is greater empathy and understanding for those who are impacted," – Dr. Massimo Bertelli, General Manager, Alnylam Italy
Art is a universal language, uniting patients around the world to break down the barriers of isolation experienced by people living with diseases like AHP and helping their voices be heard and acknowledged.
