“My battle is not only with my body, it’s the part of me you can’t see,” said Melissa Hammond, one of the portrait subjects in Pictures of You.
30 November 2022
“Do you see what I see? A person in pain?”
Portrait subject Melissa Hammond asked this when viewing her photo in the Pictures of You exhibition, which opens at 6pm Friday, 2 December.
The launch is one of several being held at Belconnen Arts Centre to coincide with International Day of People with Disability.
Featuring six expansive photos, Pictures of You aims to empower and represent people with disabilities through art.
The exhibition came about by linking people with lived experience of physical and mental disabilities with an empathetic photographer.
It was “a process that had surprising and inspirational results – both for the subjects and the artist,” said Project Manager John Brookes.
“The goal is one of equal balance in working with the artist to vocalise their experiences and feelings, collaborating to produce a visual and accessible perspective for reference by the subject and the wider community,” he said.
As she did with all the exhibition’s portrait subjects, photographer Hilary Wardhaugh worked closely with Melissa to produce her image, in which she sits outdoors on a couch.
“Melissa and I created this portrait after a long discussion about invisible disability and homelessness. Melissa has lived with chronic and debilitating pain since an accident. Her outward appearance to all intents and purpose looks ‘normal’, though that word should never be used. Because of her disability she has experienced homelessness, hence using the couch.”
Eleanor Waight, another portrait subject, has low vision. “I didn't want to be portrayed as a sad figure,” she said.
“I wanted people to see me as I am, and I really liked the end result. There is a tendency for people to see the white cane before they really see the person, which is a shame. I like the way it shows me looking forward with a certain sense of anticipation.”
International Day of People with Disability is celebrated on Saturday, 3 November.
The Pictures of You exhibition will run until 5 February 2023.
Eleanor Waight, above, and photographer Hilary Wardhaugh collaborated equally with on Eleanor’s portrait.
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