MD Unltd

Motion Disabled Unlimited - 2012 Edition of Motion Disabled

In 2012, McKeown was commissioned by Unlimited as part of London 2012 Festival to extend Motion Disabled through the inclusion and motion capture of Paralympians. The resulting work Motion Disabled: Unlimited toured the UK and became an exhibition feature at many of the Olympic torch events across the nation.

The 2012 impression studies the body and movement of some of the UK’s most famous Paralympians. Viewers are given a chance to watch and study the physicality and movement of the modern-day disabled athlete, the Paralympian. What is it like to walk and jump without legs, or to sail with one arm? Permission to view is granted; cultural identity removed; disabled avatars move.

The work continues to explore McKeown's interest in normality and difference and is made up of three distinct sections in addition to the website. A large inflatable sculpture forms the core part of the exhibition. Cold air-filled, this sculpture was placed in cities and events during 2012 at various locations globally. In addition, a new series of motion-based artworks featuring the Paralympians were created. An iPhone based Augmented Reality (AR) application linked everything together introducing viewers to the exhibition, and its concepts using high tech but accessible methods. Paralympic athletes directed by Mckeown had their motions captured at Pinewood Studios London.

The exhibition launched on July 9th 2012 in Oxford's Olympic Torch Relay celebration at South Park, in front of the events 20,000 sell-out audience. 



Please see below for further detail on where to see the exhibition:

-2013-

  • Dresden - Deutsches Hygiene Museum, October 2013 to June 2014
  • Prague - Dox Centre for Contemporary Art, May - September 2013

-2012-

  • Loughborough - Town Centre - 9th September 2012 
  • West Cheshire College, Ellesmere Port Campus, West Cheshire - 5th to 8th September 2012
  • South Bank Centre - South Bank, London - 3rd & 4th September 2012 
  • Jubilee Gardens -  South Bank, London - 29th August to 2nd September 2012  
  • Leicester - Orton Square and The Curve - 26th August 2012
  • Edinburgh - Festival Square - 13th - 17th August 2012
  • T4 On the Beach - Weston super Mare 1st July 2012 
  • Middlesbrough - MIMA - Summer 2012
  • Scunthorpe - 20-21 Visual Arts Centre - Summer 2012
  • Oxford - South Park - July 9th 2012 

- See more at: http://www.motiondisabledunlimited.com/exhibition/

London 2012 Festival - Unlimited book featuring artist Simon Mckeown, with Motion Disabled:Unlimited and the M21 Festival.