Orla Jordan
she/her
Warning! Stairs Approaching
The world is built for able-bodied people, with disabled people treated as an afterthought. My art practice examines the everyday barriers I encounter when navigating spaces as a person with a physical disability. My practice aligns with the social model of disability, which defines disability as something created by society through a lack of access rather than through individual impairment.
The symbol of stairs appears throughout my work as a representation of inaccessibility. I document obstacles encountered in daily life through photography and drawing, before translating these observations into printmaking and installation. My aim is to draw attention to these often-overlooked barriers.
Imagery of my sticks, wheelchair, and assistance dog featured throughout the work reflects how I navigate and access the world. While my practice addresses serious issues of access and exclusion, I also find a sense of joy and agency through the process of making art.
Warning! Stairs Approaching
(L-R) The Stairs (plywood); Trace and Dark Field monotype prints.
Assemblages, prints adhered to laser cut plywood pieces.
Wooden shelf at an accessible height for a wheelchair user with an accordion book on top.
Research
The process of making a Dark Field monotype print.