The Rolling Exhibition.
June 3, 2008 1:55 PM Subscribe
The Rolling Exhibition. Kevin Connolly was born without legs. This exhibit captures his photographs of people staring at him.
This post was deleted for the following reason: Previously. -- cortex
I don't have nearly as profound a disability, but it's still immediately apparent, and what bothers me the most are the little pursed-lip smiles (of pity? discomfort?) before they look away.
posted by desjardins at 2:06 PM on June 3, 2008
posted by desjardins at 2:06 PM on June 3, 2008
What a fantastic idea. Not only do you really get the impact of all the stares he has to endure, it's also hammered in that everyone he sees - staring or not - is always looking down at him.
posted by yhbc at 2:09 PM on June 3, 2008
posted by yhbc at 2:09 PM on June 3, 2008
But before any of us can ponder or speculate - we react. We stare. Whether it is a glance...
Can glance = stare? Some of these peoples seem to be just looking.
posted by robself at 2:11 PM on June 3, 2008
Can glance = stare? Some of these peoples seem to be just looking.
posted by robself at 2:11 PM on June 3, 2008
I have to say, a great many of those don't look like stares to me. I had to read and reread the artist statement to make certain I hadn't been prejudiced to think "stare" by the language in the post. I understand that what he describes ("we stare") must happen quite often, but in some of those, it's a perfectly ordinary photo, and the artist's implied, "I know what you were thinking when this picture was taken". Kinda disingenuous. Kinda railroadish. It made me like the project less.
I suspect this view will make me unpopular. S'ight. It's art, designed to provoke reactions, and that was mine.
posted by SaintCynr at 2:11 PM on June 3, 2008 [6 favorites]
I suspect this view will make me unpopular. S'ight. It's art, designed to provoke reactions, and that was mine.
posted by SaintCynr at 2:11 PM on June 3, 2008 [6 favorites]
Man, old people don't give a FUCK. They will stare at shit long past the point where anyone else would be comfortable and they'll do it with an absolute look of loathing, too.
posted by shmegegge at 2:12 PM on June 3, 2008
posted by shmegegge at 2:12 PM on June 3, 2008
This is really interesting, and a good post. "it's also hammered in that everyone he sees - staring or not - is always looking down at him" -- I agree, I thought that was a really strong visual point.
But... something bugs me slightly about this particular project. I can't put my finger on it. It feels like something to do with the fact that he didn't just photograph people openly, awkwardly gawking at him because of his different body.
He was on a skateboard. Rolling by them with a camera in hand. Isn't anyone going to look at a person who skates past them on the street with a camera, and then suddenly stops and takes a photo of them? I feel like it's almost taking advantage of his subjects.
I think this bothers me too: "Born without legs, Kevin was otherwise a healthy baby and grew up like any other Montana kid; getting dirty, running in the woods, and getting dirty some more." Is it running if you don't have any legs? How is it running? I've had dance partners in wheelchairs before, and that's definitely dancing. You don't need legs to dance on.
But don't you need legs -- even prosthetic ones -- to run?
This verbiage feels to me like he's daring the reader to think, "...but, how can you run with no legs?" with the intent of causing shame for asking the question. That was certainly my thought: "'Running in the woods?' Figuratively, maybe? Or is this where I'm supposed to think, 'Wait, an enlightened person would know that a man with no legs can still run'?"
I might be missing the forest for the trees, so to speak. And I'm sure you all will set me straight if need be.
posted by pineapple at 2:12 PM on June 3, 2008
But... something bugs me slightly about this particular project. I can't put my finger on it. It feels like something to do with the fact that he didn't just photograph people openly, awkwardly gawking at him because of his different body.
He was on a skateboard. Rolling by them with a camera in hand. Isn't anyone going to look at a person who skates past them on the street with a camera, and then suddenly stops and takes a photo of them? I feel like it's almost taking advantage of his subjects.
I think this bothers me too: "Born without legs, Kevin was otherwise a healthy baby and grew up like any other Montana kid; getting dirty, running in the woods, and getting dirty some more." Is it running if you don't have any legs? How is it running? I've had dance partners in wheelchairs before, and that's definitely dancing. You don't need legs to dance on.
But don't you need legs -- even prosthetic ones -- to run?
This verbiage feels to me like he's daring the reader to think, "...but, how can you run with no legs?" with the intent of causing shame for asking the question. That was certainly my thought: "'Running in the woods?' Figuratively, maybe? Or is this where I'm supposed to think, 'Wait, an enlightened person would know that a man with no legs can still run'?"
I might be missing the forest for the trees, so to speak. And I'm sure you all will set me straight if need be.
posted by pineapple at 2:12 PM on June 3, 2008
I suspect this view will make me unpopular. S'ight. It's art, designed to provoke reactions, and that was mine.
FWIW, I completely agree with you.
posted by tristeza at 2:13 PM on June 3, 2008
FWIW, I completely agree with you.
posted by tristeza at 2:13 PM on June 3, 2008
It's interesting - I think the "stare" feeling comes with the fact that the observers are all (of necessity) looking down on him. It's hard to think how the photos of people who were not staring at him would look any different.
posted by patricio at 2:14 PM on June 3, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by patricio at 2:14 PM on June 3, 2008 [1 favorite]
I used to cry because I had no shoes, until I met a man who had no feet.
Fucker took a picture of me and made an art exhibit out of it. I sued the museum, won a small sum, and used it to buy some shoes.
posted by Parasite Unseen at 2:15 PM on June 3, 2008 [3 favorites]
Fucker took a picture of me and made an art exhibit out of it. I sued the museum, won a small sum, and used it to buy some shoes.
posted by Parasite Unseen at 2:15 PM on June 3, 2008 [3 favorites]
I am right there with SaintCynr -
If I see something out of place, we are visually going to fixate on it before any sort of conscious reaction takes place. It is just the way we are wired.
Now, in a situation like this, well, I will stare at him for a moment until I am able to figure out what I am seeing. Then, being as I strongly believe in making eye contact with people, I am going to try to do that next.
The way he is presenting this is that I will be one of the evil oglers no matter how I handle the situation. And, 2sheets, I am damned if I look away out of concern for trying not to especially visually favor him. I am not made uncomfortable by such disablities, but I am made uncomfortable thinking "Gosh, I bet they are sick of people staring at them."
So, in conclusion, I guess I am asking people how in the nine hells am I supposed to handle a situation like this? If I look, I am staring. If I don't look, I am callously ignoring the person.
posted by Samizdata at 2:20 PM on June 3, 2008 [2 favorites]
If I see something out of place, we are visually going to fixate on it before any sort of conscious reaction takes place. It is just the way we are wired.
Now, in a situation like this, well, I will stare at him for a moment until I am able to figure out what I am seeing. Then, being as I strongly believe in making eye contact with people, I am going to try to do that next.
The way he is presenting this is that I will be one of the evil oglers no matter how I handle the situation. And, 2sheets, I am damned if I look away out of concern for trying not to especially visually favor him. I am not made uncomfortable by such disablities, but I am made uncomfortable thinking "Gosh, I bet they are sick of people staring at them."
So, in conclusion, I guess I am asking people how in the nine hells am I supposed to handle a situation like this? If I look, I am staring. If I don't look, I am callously ignoring the person.
posted by Samizdata at 2:20 PM on June 3, 2008 [2 favorites]
I found the photos quite touching and haunting. The artist's statement makes it pretty clear he's not condemning his subjects for their reactions -- rather, he's interested in capturing that fleeting moment of un-self-conscious reaction to his unusual appearance.
In each photograph the subjects share a commonality, but what does their context say? Looking at each face, I saw humanity. Rolling through their streets, I found the unique cultures and customs that created an individual.
posted by treepour at 2:22 PM on June 3, 2008
In each photograph the subjects share a commonality, but what does their context say? Looking at each face, I saw humanity. Rolling through their streets, I found the unique cultures and customs that created an individual.
posted by treepour at 2:22 PM on June 3, 2008
I dunno. I have legs and am fairly normal looking, and people often look at me funny when I point a camera at them. In fact, their expressions usually change entirely, often to something uncomfortable or stonefaced. This could have been called "The Stare People Gave them When I Pointed a Camera at Them."
posted by oneironaut at 2:26 PM on June 3, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by oneironaut at 2:26 PM on June 3, 2008 [1 favorite]
that fleeting moment of un-self-conscious reaction to his unusual appearance.
Because he's an American, on a skateboard, rolling down the street with a camera.
Anyway, thanks for the link, chunking -- I missed this one the first time.
posted by pineapple at 2:27 PM on June 3, 2008
Because he's an American, on a skateboard, rolling down the street with a camera.
Anyway, thanks for the link, chunking -- I missed this one the first time.
posted by pineapple at 2:27 PM on June 3, 2008
It's a cool idea. I remember as a child being very affected by some PSA or educational film explaining the looks that handicapped/disabled people received. It's been burned into my brain to look on everyone as if they were just like me. I have seen some incredibly deformed people that have almost made me want to cry (young kids of the "Mask" variety), but (I think) I'm pretty good at maintaining a straight face.
That's my personal angle, and because of that PSA burned into my brain at an early age, this phenomenon fascinates me (reactions of "normal" people to disfigured or disabled persons). However, the pictures were a little underwhelming. I wish he had posted a picture of what he looks like to these people (e.g. "does he use a skateboard to move around"). Did I miss that?
I guess a lot of the people just look like they're standing around. I don't necessarily get the context from the photos, and if I had seen them before I knew the context and *then* someone told me, I don't think I'd say "ah, I can see it." Perhaps it's because this guy looks apparently very "normal" (even attractive; hard to tell with the blur) from the waist up. *shrug* Disclaimer: I'm not a big fan of photographic art unless it's tweaked or freaky.
I guess I wanted more freaky. I didn't see a single freakout, and I've seen people freak out in real life. The Gladiator was close. Inquisitive kids and pitying old people are always affecting, but I wanted something more.
I wish I could see what he looked like to them. If he was moving around like a normal person, I wouldn't think twice, but I admit if I turned the corner or came through a tunnel and saw a man with half a body coming out of the street, I would be freaked out for a second.
How many of you wouldn't think it wasn't special effects or "hey, there are such things as lsd flashbacks."
Certainly no offense intended at all. I just wanted better pictures. Perhaps I'd appreciate more with a "best of" collection. The kids are the most interesting, because they are unafraid.
posted by mrgrimm at 2:34 PM on June 3, 2008
That's my personal angle, and because of that PSA burned into my brain at an early age, this phenomenon fascinates me (reactions of "normal" people to disfigured or disabled persons). However, the pictures were a little underwhelming. I wish he had posted a picture of what he looks like to these people (e.g. "does he use a skateboard to move around"). Did I miss that?
I guess a lot of the people just look like they're standing around. I don't necessarily get the context from the photos, and if I had seen them before I knew the context and *then* someone told me, I don't think I'd say "ah, I can see it." Perhaps it's because this guy looks apparently very "normal" (even attractive; hard to tell with the blur) from the waist up. *shrug* Disclaimer: I'm not a big fan of photographic art unless it's tweaked or freaky.
I guess I wanted more freaky. I didn't see a single freakout, and I've seen people freak out in real life. The Gladiator was close. Inquisitive kids and pitying old people are always affecting, but I wanted something more.
I wish I could see what he looked like to them. If he was moving around like a normal person, I wouldn't think twice, but I admit if I turned the corner or came through a tunnel and saw a man with half a body coming out of the street, I would be freaked out for a second.
How many of you wouldn't think it wasn't special effects or "hey, there are such things as lsd flashbacks."
Certainly no offense intended at all. I just wanted better pictures. Perhaps I'd appreciate more with a "best of" collection. The kids are the most interesting, because they are unafraid.
posted by mrgrimm at 2:34 PM on June 3, 2008
The more you ignore me, the closer I get.
posted by mattbucher at 2:38 PM on June 3, 2008
posted by mattbucher at 2:38 PM on June 3, 2008
I think it's an interesting project, but I don't know that it reveals any great insights into people's perceptions. If I saw something non-standard in my field of vision, I would take a moment to identify what it was, if in that moment, someone captured an image of me, it might make me look bad as well. I'd be more interested in seeing two photos, one at the moment of seeing someone with no legs, and another one ten seconds later where the person has had time to process what they are looking at.
Truth be told, though, when I first saw the link, I had hoped that people were looking at him because he was using this as a wheelchair.
posted by quin at 2:38 PM on June 3, 2008
Truth be told, though, when I first saw the link, I had hoped that people were looking at him because he was using this as a wheelchair.
posted by quin at 2:38 PM on June 3, 2008
He's got a lot of balls. I think.
That's because he's a mail plane.
posted by LionIndex at 2:39 PM on June 3, 2008
That's because he's a mail plane.
posted by LionIndex at 2:39 PM on June 3, 2008
I would stare at this guy the same way I would stare at a midget. Not because I have any real feeling one way or the other. It's just like "Oh, hey, a midget." But in this case: "Oh, hey, dude with no legs rolling by on a skateboard taking a picture of me." Actually, I have to say that would kinda piss me off.
posted by turgid dahlia at 2:42 PM on June 3, 2008
posted by turgid dahlia at 2:42 PM on June 3, 2008
I find what Bill Shannon does with people's stares more compelling.
posted by progosk at 2:50 PM on June 3, 2008
posted by progosk at 2:50 PM on June 3, 2008
He's got a lot of balls. I think.
Wonderful the way the body compensates, isn't it? I bet he hears really well, too.
posted by Pater Aletheias at 2:52 PM on June 3, 2008 [1 favorite]
Wonderful the way the body compensates, isn't it? I bet he hears really well, too.
posted by Pater Aletheias at 2:52 PM on June 3, 2008 [1 favorite]
Wonderful the way the body compensates, isn't it? I bet he hears really well, too.
Having no legs but massive balls is like the poor man's spacehopper.
posted by turgid dahlia at 3:08 PM on June 3, 2008
Having no legs but massive balls is like the poor man's spacehopper.
posted by turgid dahlia at 3:08 PM on June 3, 2008
Some of those people are almost certainly just "looking." I don't think there's any shame in that, and I don't know any disabled people who don't know the difference between a look - even a long one, which is often required while people process something unfamiliar - and a straight-up, slack-jawed, bug-eyed stare, which is crazy offensive. I spent several years working as a PCA for a disabled lawyer who used a wheelchair and a ventilator. I remember the stares, but they were fortunately fairly rare in Boston. They were much more common anywhere outside the city. (Oh, and shmegegge is dead-on - old people do not give a FUCK, and will even stare at someone with a pronounced limp like they're some kind of mutant from Chernobyl.)
posted by Banky_Edwards at 3:09 PM on June 3, 2008
posted by Banky_Edwards at 3:09 PM on June 3, 2008
« Older You mean they read? | When they grab you with those metal claws, you... Newer »
This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments
posted by chunking express at 1:55 PM on June 3, 2008