Hi! Thanks for visiting my website. It's been some time since I last worked on any professional creative projects, or indeed worked at all. The reason for that is that I've been suffering from ME/CFS for several years now, and it negatively impacts my life to the degree that I am now full-time disabled. I don't think this will change any time soon.
ME/CFS is short for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis / Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. It's a disabling chronic illness that results in profound, constant physical and cognitive fatigue that is not improved by rest, and is disproportionately exacerbated by physical or cognitive activity. You might have heard of Long Covid, which is a similar fatiguing post-viral syndrome following infection with Covid-19. It's possible that Long Covid is a form of ME/CFS, which also often emerges as sequelae to viral infection and has similar symptoms. In my case, I think mine started following a chest infection over ten years ago. There is no medication or cure for ME/CFS, and treatment is focused on symptom mitigation, via lifestyle changes.
For me, at present, the condition is extremely debilitating, and it makes it very difficult for me to produce any creative work (or do much of anything at all). It's very frustrating for me. Most of my limited energy goes into mundane life-admin tasks. I am still an artist (it's what I'm good at), albeit one who isn't currently producing any work. I hope that new research into Long Covid will result in new insights into, and possibly treatment for, ME/CFS and related post-viral chronic illnesses.
I've been meaning to write and post this update for a long time now! It's taken me a lot of effort to get this text together. Most of the project documentation on my website needs updating or fixing, and currently the website is more of a CV than a portfolio. More importantly, my engagement with other disabled artists has impressed on me the importance of image descriptions and other accessibility features, which I want to add to this site when I have the energy to do so. I deeply appreciate the camaraderie and praxis I've found among other artists who are also living with disability, and want to express my solidarity.
If you want to learn more about ME/CFS, the ME Association is a great source of information and advocacy (https://meassociation.org.uk) and the recent documentary film Unrest is a significant and influential work about ME/CFS from the perspective of patients, doctors and researchers (https://www.unrest.film). If you want to get in touch with me, my email address is mail@tobinalex.com. For all the reasons described above, it may take me a little while to respond to you, apologies!
Alex