Print Exchange 2025: Larissa MacFarlane

I am a proud Disabled Scottish-Australian queer artist/activist from Naarm, Melbourne, living on the stolen lands of the Kulin nation. My artwork often explores Disability identity, culture, pride and justice, using printmaking as well as community and street art. I taught myself to do handstands 21 years ago as part of my recovery from a brain injury. I didn’t ever ‘recover’ from that brain injury, but I have learnt to accept and even embrace my new brain. My daily handstands are now part of my Disability Pride practice, reminding me that disability is a human experience, full of both joy and sorrow; that what makes disability hard is discrimination/ableism; and that I don’t need to hide or be ashamed of my disabled life. And also, there is nothing sweeter than a handstand under a blooming tree.