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In September 2023, Autograph supported artist Dexter McLean in undertaking a research project in Kingston, Jamaica, where the artist was born and lived until he moved to the UK aged nine. Diagnosed with cerebral palsy as a child, McLean draws on his lived experience to explore the treatment, social conditions, personal narratives, and representational politics of disability.
During the research trip, McLean visited two schools for disabled children and Cheshire Village, part of the Sir John Golding Rehabilitation Centre, which consists of 21 purpose-built accessible housing units. By spending time and building relationships, McLean was able to photograph and record conversations with individuals in these communities, including carers and support workers. Via the camera, McLean has begun to build a critical dialogue concerning attitudes towards disability in Jamaica and beyond.
Spent with disabled communities in Kingston
A new body of work with over 50 finalised photographic works resulted from the research trip
Sharing McLean's work and research with audiences at Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art, Newcastle
More than 50 members of the community sat for McLean
Sharing new work produced during the research trip
McLean's project was covered by Jamaican News Outlet CVM TV
Continued Autograph's long-standing relationship with photographer Dexter McLean
McLean's images contribute to the visual representation of disability
Bernice Smith by Dexter McLean, 2023
Sylvia Grant, Estella Campbell and Dexter in Cheshire Village
Dexter McLean setting up his camera equipment
Jamelia Marriott by Dexter McLean, 2023
Dexter McLean (born 1993, Kingston, Jamaica) moved to the United Kingdom when he was nine. Diagnosed with cerebral palsy as a child, McLean’s documentary and portrait photography is concerned with addressing fundamental flaws in the representations of the disabled community in mainstream media and elsewhere.
McLean was the first person in his family to attend university, graduating with a Masters degree in Photography from Middlesex University in 2020. In 2021 he self-published his first monograph Tower Avenue revisiting the community around Olympic Gardens, Jamaica where he spent his childhood.
You can follow the artist on Instagram and see more work on his website.
The national creative programme working towards changing the discourse of how neurodivergent artists are positioned and described in culture.
Find out more 
View a selection of works produced by Dexter McLean as a result of the research project
View image gallery Dexter McLean's research commission was programmed as part of the EXPLORERS Project supported by Arts Council England and Paul Hamlyn Foundation. EXPLORERS is a national creative programme for increasing the visibility and representation of neurodivergent artists in contemporary visual art.
Banner image: Dexter McLean, Kidd Gwendolyn [detail], 2023. Courtesy the artist.
Images on page: courtesy Dexter McLean.
Autograph is a place to see things differently. Since 1988, we have championed photography that explores issues of race, identity, representation, human rights and social justice, sharing how photographs reflect lived experiences and shape our understanding of ourselves and others.
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