health
February 3, 2026
‘Pain is a violent lover’: Daisy Lafarge on the paintings she made when floored with agony
Suffering from a connective tissue disorder and enduring endless calls to try and get benefits, the poet and novelist turned to painting – resulting in work that could change perceptions of disabled people
TL;DR
- Daisy Lafarge created paintings and poetry during a period of intense pain and health struggles, turning her limitations into artistic constraints.
- Her artwork utilizes basic materials, including repurposed kinesiology tape, and explores themes of pain, decay, and enclosed spaces.
- Lafarge's poem cycle is inspired by William Blake and The Romance of the Rose, allegorically depicting pain as a lover.
- Her work will be exhibited at Dundee Contemporary Arts Centre as part of 'We Contain Multitudes,' showcasing four disabled artists.
- The exhibition also features artists Jo Longhurst, Andrew Gannon, and Nnena Kalu, who recently won the Turner prize.
- Lafarge emphasizes the need for structural changes and material support for disabled artists, beyond mere representation.
- She highlights the bureaucratic challenges disabled individuals face in accessing treatment and support in the UK.
- Lafarge believes exhibitions like 'We Contain Multitudes' can challenge stereotypes about disabled artists and people.
- She hopes her work resonates with all audiences, regardless of their physical ability, as disability affects a significant portion of the population.
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