Stiffaknee Joints

Cardboard, acrylic paint wearable sculpture, 2025

Stiffaknee Joints is a project and character created through a wearable cardboard sculpture. This series of pictures depicts a version of myself which has been abstracted into an uncomfortable geometric shape. Within each picture is a stage of my day during university, including waking up, brushing my teeth, walking to class, navigating the building and returning home. I aimed to explore my day to day life with arthritis and how uncomfortable I feel throughout the day in addition to the difficulties I face with mobility issues. The permanent smile painted on the head symbolises for me how I feel the need to mask my pain for the comfort of other people. Through this photographed sculpture I wanted to communicate the awkward aspects of my disability as well as to inform others of my hidden disability.