Exploring a photographer’s sight loss through surreal self portraits.
20th September - 29th October 2024
Clydebank Art Gallery and Museum. 5 Hall St. Clydebank G81 1UB
Tuesday - Friday 9.30am - 4.30pm Admission Free
How Many Fingers?
Infantilise
Look Down Look Left
Mobility and Orientation
Occlusion
Torn Between The Light and Dark
Shadow Of An Echo
When faced with the challenge of ongoing sight loss, how does a Digital Photographic Artist continue to create? How does one navigate the uncertainty of the future, the discomfort and the searing light? Robert H. King, a visually impaired artist, reflects on these questions through his new exhibition.
The Artist’s Vision:
Robert’s journey is one of resilience and creativity. He was born with sight issues and after experiencing a period of blindness, surgery restored limited vision in one eye. His condition is complex, including: Aphakia (absence of a lens) in one eye • damaged retina and iris • permanently dilated pupil (Mydriasis) • permanent double vision (Diplopia) of light and shadows and a high sensitivity to light. Robert views his condition as an “ever-present physical and mental challenge” that fuels his artistic expression.
A New Perspective on Self-Portraiture:
The exhibition is a series of evocative, multi-layered self-portraits that challenge traditional notions of vision and artistry. The work combines: Retinal scans • fluorescein angiograms • images from mobility and orientation white cane training and photos of medical equipment and treatment rooms. Using an iPhone and low vision aids, Robert captured images during his medical appointments and hospital visits, transforming clinical experiences into art. The images touch on various stages and emotions of sight loss like anger, denial and grief whilst drawing attention to some of the clichéd tropes of blindness: helplessness, infantilising and darkness.
Beyond Disability, Celebrating Creativity:
Robert’s work goes beyond focusing on disability, instead engaging with the artist as a creative individual. Through blurred, distorted, damaged and obscured visuals, he creates “positive images and affirmations” to transcend socially established notions of how blindness and visual impairment is portrayed and represented in contemporary visual culture. This exhibition serves as a form of creative activism and advocacy, challenging misconceptions about visual impairment in the creative industries. It’s not solely about sight loss, but about exploring identity and pushing the boundaries of self-portraiture. By balancing artistic expression with technical limitations, Robert demonstrates the power of adaptation and the endless possibilities of creative vision, even in the face of physical challenges.
This exhibition has been made possible with a Visual Artist and Craft Maker Award from Creative Scotland and West Dunbartonshire Council.