"Pictures of You"
Generator Gallery, Belconnen Arts Centre. 2 December 2022 - 5 February 2023
Have you ever tried to explain what it is to be YOU? Either to a friend, a partner, your family, a professional – even to yourself?
No matter how articulate we are words can often fail us, yet an image: a single depiction of mood, Self – both inside and out – setting and style, can say so much more. Imagine having an image that is YOU, that sums up who and what you are, a source of pride or honestry and says…”this is me”.
That said, as with words, many of us lack the basic ground level skills not just to produce such an image, but to look at ourselves with a sense of perspective, to honestly interpret ourselves.
But imagine having access to an empathic photographic artist, professionally trained in interpreting and gaining insight into a subject; whom you can work with as an equal partner, a mutually beneficial relationship, to express oneself outside of the formal care setting – giving and gaining insight in the process of creating your image in a safe environment – either face to face or online.
That was the vision of the “Pictures of You” initiative.
John Brookes worked in collaboration with photographer Hilary Wardhaugh and the Belco Arts Centre, supported by ACT Government on an innovative new exhibition, “Pictures of You”. This explored a unique approach to portrayals of people with lived experience of physical disabled and mental health disabilities collaborating as equals with Hilary to produce a portrait honestly reflecting the whole person and not just the ‘consumer’ – a process that has had surprising and inspirational results – both for the subject and the artist.
One of those portrayed, Eleanor Wright, elaborated: "I am an emerging artist with low vision, dabbling in a variety of media. I have
always had a creative leaning, be that music, writing or art. I wanted to capture me as I am now, particularly following a period of personal hardship, including COVID. I even came up with my own pose which was indicative of how comfortable I became. I think
the poses where my cane leaned against the sculpture were particularly powerful.
"I didn’t want to be portrayed as a sad figure. 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. I think what surprised me was my own presence as the focus of the portrait."
Melissa Hammond, [pictured above] was also one of the sitters, challenging the face of disability and homelessness. "Do you see what I see? A person in pain? A person who struggled to get dressed and do their hair that day? A person calculating what they will have to give up in their week to recover from this? My battle is not only with my body, it’s the part of me you can’t see.
"In 2015, I was involved in a car accident. As a result of my injuries, I was left with the invisible disability called chronic pain and became homeless, needing to couch surf to get by. You could think for a moment that I’m lying but the truth is, being questioned whether I am is just another way having an invisible disability hurts me." HERCanberra article 29/11/22 [link to PDF]
The "Pictures of You" exhibition was so successful that when it ended at Belco Arts on 5th Feb, it was moved to a full size display on show at the hugely popular Westfield Belconnen shopping centre, some images are in the Gallery below.
No matter how articulate we are words can often fail us, yet an image: a single depiction of mood, Self – both inside and out – setting and style, can say so much more. Imagine having an image that is YOU, that sums up who and what you are, a source of pride or honestry and says…”this is me”.
That said, as with words, many of us lack the basic ground level skills not just to produce such an image, but to look at ourselves with a sense of perspective, to honestly interpret ourselves.
But imagine having access to an empathic photographic artist, professionally trained in interpreting and gaining insight into a subject; whom you can work with as an equal partner, a mutually beneficial relationship, to express oneself outside of the formal care setting – giving and gaining insight in the process of creating your image in a safe environment – either face to face or online.
That was the vision of the “Pictures of You” initiative.
John Brookes worked in collaboration with photographer Hilary Wardhaugh and the Belco Arts Centre, supported by ACT Government on an innovative new exhibition, “Pictures of You”. This explored a unique approach to portrayals of people with lived experience of physical disabled and mental health disabilities collaborating as equals with Hilary to produce a portrait honestly reflecting the whole person and not just the ‘consumer’ – a process that has had surprising and inspirational results – both for the subject and the artist.
One of those portrayed, Eleanor Wright, elaborated: "I am an emerging artist with low vision, dabbling in a variety of media. I have
always had a creative leaning, be that music, writing or art. I wanted to capture me as I am now, particularly following a period of personal hardship, including COVID. I even came up with my own pose which was indicative of how comfortable I became. I think
the poses where my cane leaned against the sculpture were particularly powerful.
"I didn’t want to be portrayed as a sad figure. 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. I think what surprised me was my own presence as the focus of the portrait."
Melissa Hammond, [pictured above] was also one of the sitters, challenging the face of disability and homelessness. "Do you see what I see? A person in pain? A person who struggled to get dressed and do their hair that day? A person calculating what they will have to give up in their week to recover from this? My battle is not only with my body, it’s the part of me you can’t see.
"In 2015, I was involved in a car accident. As a result of my injuries, I was left with the invisible disability called chronic pain and became homeless, needing to couch surf to get by. You could think for a moment that I’m lying but the truth is, being questioned whether I am is just another way having an invisible disability hurts me." HERCanberra article 29/11/22 [link to PDF]
The "Pictures of You" exhibition was so successful that when it ended at Belco Arts on 5th Feb, it was moved to a full size display on show at the hugely popular Westfield Belconnen shopping centre, some images are in the Gallery below.
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