Disability has been spotlighted recently thanks to the NDIS being announced and last year's Paralympics. It's fitting then that in Strangely Familiar, Brisbane-based photographer Louis Lim showcases three people in a way whereby he encourages the viewer to think in terms of 'differently abled' rather than disabled. Take Finbar – a motorcycle accident put him in a wheelchair and here he's represented in a series of four photographs showing him in the chair, getting up, walking with the aid of a stick and finally standing on his own. Poignant mementos of Finbar's recently ended relationship provide a powerful context for the effect of the accident and ensuing challenges.
Another subject, Jocelyn, is shown both in a wheelchair and in a regular chair, illustrating how easy it is to label and judge her as 'disabled' in the first. Jocelyn was eager to explore notions of femininity and sexuality, and her bedroom shots display a disarming juxtaposition of medical looking bags and tubes alongside scented candles and black lace underwear. Complementing the exhibition is Spare Parts – a collection of used prosthetic legs put together by Priscilla Sutton (icollectspareparts.com). The legs, decorated by various artists, range from whimsical, to strange (one leg has a doll's head and arms) to an impressive Steampunk leg featuring rusted cutlery and a winged shoe. Both exhibitions bring into focus the importance of 'disabled' not having to mean 'less than'.
