MARCH 1 – This black-and-white photograph of an artificial right leg without the body is an unusual and intriguing sight.
How many of us have come across this uncommon situation in the mainstream of our normal daily life? Normally, it is usual to meet a person without one or both of their legs but never a leg without the other limb and the rest of the body. Whose leg is this and where is the body? What is it doing there? This is surreal.
Where did this incongruous image come from? This bizarre portrait of a single prosthetic right leg with its shoe on and in a pair of blue jeans, set in a men’s changing room, is now on show at the photographic exhibition “Empathy”.
This is the third collection of my photographs focusing on people with various disabilities going about doing sports and other activities and enjoying their life.
The exhibition is at the Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (KLPac), Jalan Strachan off Jalan Ipoh, (03-4047 9010, daily 10 to 10, free). This display of 30 visual images of disability will end on March 8. Otherwise click on to www.victorchin.com Next to the photo of the leg without the body is another image of uncertainty.
This is a scene of a section of a swimming pool and on the curb we see a pair of sandals and also a walking stick with a hand rest and a hand wrist.
Has the person who owns these items just jumped into the pool? Is the person swimming or drowning? Can a legless person swim? What sort of sports can a disabled person enjoy?
One of my aims in this public display is to stimulate questions and offer some answers that may occur in the viewers’ minds when they encounter this unexpected image.
What art and, in this case, photography, can possibly do may be to increase the understanding of these small groups and overcome some of our ignorance of the others in our community.
Look at this close up shot of the feet, the left foot is holding down the note book while the right foot, with a ball pen, is writing out a name and the person’s address.
Why is this person not writing with his hand as we would expect? Could it be that this fellow human being was born handless or for some reason cannot use that part of their limb? What are some of the difficulties involved in learning to write with the foot?
What if this happened to one of us? What else can one do with the foot?
How many foot or mouth painters have we come across in our life? Here is Siti Aishad, 31, from Kedah and she is an accomplished professional foot painter (012-9245064).
She and a few of her fellow artists belong to the foot and mouth painters’ organisation.
This set of portraits offers a chance to look at a few aspects of some of our brothers’ and sisters’ lives and to be aware that they, like the rest of us, also long for empathy.
People with disabilities, like many other marginalised groups, cherish the basic desire to live a free, decent and healthy life without discrimination.
Is art merely a reflection in which we may find ourselves?
Show/Hide comments
Show/Hide comment form
works of Victor Chin, who I knew when I lived in Malaysia, as
New Zealand & Malaysia Bilateral Aid Advisor.
Victor was one of the very few people who saw my book 'Malaysia Terima Kasih',
before it was launched on television by myself, and Tan Sri Chong Hon Nyan, Cabinet Minister.
I mentioned Victor's comment in the opening pages of my book, which although it was not
on sale, as it was a presentation book, even now can be seen on the internet, and at Exhibtions,
in some countries, particularly as it was exhibited internationally by The British Council,
and it won the Manila Critics National Award for the best Art book.
I often meet some of the Malaysian people who I knew at that time
A few weeks ago I was in Kuala Lumpur at the invitation of the Commonwealth Business Council,
UK Trade & Investment and the Lord Mayor of London, for the delegation for the Islamic Banking Forum,
as ever, my visit to the country was too short to meet everyone who I had known, however
I was invited to The Prime Minister's 100 days Celebration, which made my visit even more memorable.
In other countries I am often asked to give Talks and Exhibitions, and at all of these Malaysia is a special feature, and will continue to be so ...I hope that Victor has continuing success and that he is able to see my comments