12 paintings are arranged on a black wall. They are placed in four columns, each containing three paintings. All the paintings are on a blue background. The first column on the left consists of three paintings depicting a person in a wheelchair, painted with different shades of magenta. The second column consists of three paintings depicting a figure in motion, painted with orange hues. The fourth column consists of three paintings depicting a figure in motion, painted with blue, green, and magenta. The third column consists of three paintings depicting a figure in different shades of blue, either sitting in a chair or bent over. The person is in motion.
Emery Vanderburgh The Disabled Body in Motion, video stills, 2023.
Photo: courtesy of the artist

Disabled Habitus

Emery Vanderburgh
117 – Crip Feature Emery Vanderburgh
LinkedIn
My prosthetic knee began breaking down this year, just as I was putting together my first two solo exhibitions in Montréal. Eventually, it failed completely, leaving me housebound while I waited for funding approval for repairs. Initial plans were scrapped. Materials and processes changed. I developed something entirely unexpected.

This experience (somewhat conveniently, for writing this piece) crystallized the parallels I see between disabled life and creative practice. These parallels often centre on tension, compromise, and contradiction. As an amputee with access to prosthetic technology, I navigate a constant push and pull: critiquing technology while relying on it daily, appreciating the access I have in Canada while wishing for more advanced options, and feeling complicit in systemic inequities.

LinkedIn

This content is available with a Digital or Premium subscription only. Subscribe to read the full text and access all our Features, Off-Features, Portfolios, and Columns!

Subscribe (starting at $20)

Already have a Digital or Premium subscription?

Log in

Don’t want to subscribe? Additional content is available with an Esse account. It’s free and no purchase will ever be required. Create an account or log in:

My Account

This article also appears in the issue 117 - Crip
Discover

Suggested Reading