King's College London

The Us and Them project, led by Alana Harris (Department of History), creatively re-imagined 19th-century asylum photographs to highlight issues surrounding disability and challenge how people with disabilities have been portrayed over time. This powerful collaboration brought together eight disabled artists from Freewheelers Theatre and Disability Company to explore how historical images of people with disabilities can be reinterpreted to challenge past and present stigmas.

In partnership with Surrey History Centre, the project unearthed archival photographs taken in local psychiatric institutions and paired them with newly commissioned portraits of the disabled artists. Guided by portrait photographer Emma Brown and oral historian Laura Mitchison, the artists used historical photographic techniques to create new images that provoke questions about ableism, mental health, and representation.

The project culminated in a public exhibition at The Horton Arts Centre in Epsom, where the new and historical photographs were displayed side by side. The exhibition opened to great public interest, sparking important discussions around disability and inclusion.

Looking ahead, the project aims to expand with further exhibitions and creative outputs, continuing to explore the intersection of disability activism and historical memory.