Ferocious Blessings

an exhibition of photographs flowing from a life consumed by severe M.E.

this page is an introduction to the full exhibition

Severe M.E. has left me bedridden for more than a decade. Most of that time has been spent alone, in the dark, overwhelmed by pain and exhaustion, and feeling too fatigued for any activities. One day, after a slight improvement, I picked up my mother's digital camera. I didn't have energy to investigate how to use it, just pointed and clicked. My arms were weak and the result was blurry but there was tremendous satisfaction from producing something colourful – and it had only required a couple of second of precious energy.

door in a door 1: click to see full exhibition

Almost immediately I felt I wanted to take atmospheric photographs documenting the 'spirit' of one who had been ill, disabled and shut away from society for so long. I was the only model available for this and despite being very camera shy, I submitted myself to the scrutiny of the camera.

When I became tired of photographing tiredness, I turned the camera on the darkened room that I have been incarcerated in for eleven years. I discovered it contains a parallel universe of vibrancy (perhaps the so called invalid and her kind do too!).

Penny M (contact Penny M).

view the full
Ferocious Blessings exhibition

Copyright. All photographs in the exhibition are © copyright Penny M. If you would like permission to use a photo on a website or in other media, please email your request to Penny M.