A&D ANNUAL 2021

Sarah Barlow

Sarah Barlow is an emerging contemporary jewellery and textiles artist. Through her practice, she explores themes of the unseen interior of the body, disability, and chronic illness. Her passion for perceptions and misconceptions of the body is influenced by growing up deaf and having Cochlear Implants, as well as living with several debilitating injuries, and chronic mental and physical illnesses. For this project, Sarah explored the impacts of the lack of awareness and understanding of people with invisible disability and chronic illness (IDACI) and their nature in society. The battle against misconceptions and stigma surrounding what is not visible has a compounding impact on their lives. Through exploring materials and text that parallel with both her personal and sourced narratives, Sarah crafted a wearable jewellery series that portrays the perspectives of people living with IDACI. The series is designed to bring attention to the invisible, and examines themes of transparency, complexity, and perception. Each unique collection aims to raise awareness and help eliminate stigma and misconceptions towards people living with IDACI.