happiful september 2021

positive pointers
To continue this work, I
often use money generated to
collaborate with amputees on the
development of a piece they own,
in return for being the inspiration
and model for a copy of that limb
to go on public display.
Recently I made a leg for a
beautiful champion pole dancer
– a man in his 50s who I sought
out for a collaboration. Initially
he thought that an alternative
limb might be cumbersome but,
after a conversation, we created a
tattooed leg with a hoof that clips
onto the pole, with a sculpture
on the back that spins as he does,
adding another feature to his
phenomenal performances.
What impact do your
alternative limbs have on
people’s outlooks?
From the beginning, the people
who came to me said they
wanted a limb that would be
seen. One lady I met was born
without her arm just below
her elbow, and she shared how
people might not notice this
as they began a conversation
with her but she would clock
the moment that they did, and
it was awkward. For her, having
an alternative piece was a way of
non-verbalising that difference
while speaking volumes, as she
was actively inviting people to
see her chosen limb.
Another gentleman who lost
his leg while he was in the
military explained how he was
surrounded by amputees when
he was in service, but when
he returned to civilian life that
wasn’t the case, and people stared
at him constantly. We worked
together because he wanted to
give people something to really
look at, in a playful way and one
that was positive for him. After
we fitted his alternative limb, his
whole body stance changed. He
was completely empowered. It
was just incredible to witness.
Find out more at altlimbpro.com
and @thealternativelimbproject
happiful.com | September 2021 | 31