Straight down the hallway, then left, left again, once more to the left, and again to the left — and there it is, the gym. The hallway is glowing in blue and turquoise — Caribbean colors — it smells clean. A tunnel, then light again, and another tunnel, more light — a tunnel — doors — I open them — the brightness blinds me — I have to let my eyes adjust.

In front of me is a young teacher — she’s holding a girl in her arms — teaching her how to walk. In that moment, I already know I have to somehow convince this extraordinary child to be photographed.

But the girl — no! No! No! “I don’t want to!”She’s frustrated by the tedious exercises — lowers her head — I can’t see her eyes — soft red hair — she shrugs — twists her legs — this child is learning to walk, but her body moves as if it’s dancing. Every gesture she makes is full of grace — the kind you can’t be taught. An astonishing gift — she is incredibly talented.

A thought flashes through my mind — a talent like this can’t be wasted. But it’s different — the teacher is showing her how to walk with a cane — to keep her safe — because this is a school for the blind.

I chose you. This is part of a series of images — about human disabilities — about not seeing.

I feel uneasy — there’s so much struggle, so much pain.

My first reaction is resistance — anger — that things are like this, that we are limited. Different people, in different areas of life.

Eventually, I surrender.

What if I don’t understand? And what if — in not seeing, you actually see more?

KATALOG:

the book to the exhibition You Are the One 

© 2024 XY ANKA MIERZEJEWSKA