I visited the Louvre recently, joining my Mom in France as she worked with foreign offices at her company. I chiefly noticed "The Wedding Feast at Cana", depicting Jesus turning water to wine. The people depicted in painting were mostly well to do, groomed, in stylish outfits, and eating to their hearts content. What struck me as strange was the fact that there was nobody in the painting who accurately represented Jesus' following at the time. Jesus' followers were principally those who were cast down by society, the disabled, and the poor, yet they are nowhere to be found in the painting. "The Wedding Feast at Cana" was representative of a different time in history, where it was believed art must show perfection, light skin, and pristine bodies. Today, in the 21st century, art has evolved to show the humanity's imperfections, which are arguably more beautiful and compelling than Renaissance views of perfection.
Modern art displays societal conflicts and ideological issues in innovative ways. For example, artist Christine Sun Kim focuses on the experience of individuals with hearing impairments. She combines humor with seemingly simple drawings to play to the experiences of the deaf community and make her artwork relatable.
Artist and activist Riva Lehrer focuses on portraying the imperfect human body, and how social stigma affects the mental health of those with disabilities. A piece she created in 1996, "Blue Veronika", depicts a woman with scoliosis, and an x-ray that covers her face. The painting displays that society uses disability to define a person rather than their character.
Disability artwork has progressed immensely since the 1500s. Disability is no longer viewed as an identity trait that needs to be cured, or something that happens as a consequence of wrong action. Instead, it is viewed as a unique circumstance that is beautiful and a part of life.
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