Artist Transforms “Disabled” Hands into Source of Beauty

by Andrés T. Tapia –

Chun-Shan (Sandie) Yi was born in Taiwan with only two fingers on each hand and two toes on each foot–and grew up being told by family members to “forget any future of love or success.” She refused to take their advice.

Instead, she left Taiwan to go to the School of the Art Institute of Chicago for her BA & MA. During her time there she learned about disability culture and began to think of her difference as a valuable attribute instead of a disability. Sandie has now returned to Taiwan as an art therapy teacher, assisting others with disabilities and in need.

I  hear two stories being told through her art. The first story is one of cultural oppression, of people with physical disabilities being treated as invisible in Taiwanese culture as in so most cultures around the world. The second is about the value and beauty that the difference of disability can hold. Sandie puts it this way:

“My hands and feet are my assets, my special traits. Art is a way for me to understand the beauty of the challenges in my life, and also a way to adorn myself. I wish to be identified as ‘born with two fingers and two toes on each limb.’”

Two pieces of art Sandie displays on Access Living–crocheted and reconstructed gloves–emphasize the decorative nature of her striking hands.

Sandie also creates baby “onesies” with doodle-like representations of hands with varying numbers of fingers. It’s never too early to teach children that disability is part of life. In fact, is life.

Related posts

• Ten Ways the World Has Been Turned Upside Down: Part 2
• Safeway Honors 10,000 Employees with Disabilities, Cites Benefits of Tapping “Overlooked Talent Pool”
• Redefining Ability — Thriving Danish Software Company Job Requirement: Autism
• KPMG Confronts the Diversity Issue We Fear Most: Disability
• Call Center Employs 250 People with Disabilities — Has Lowest Attrition in High Attrition Industry

Diversity the Key to Winning $1 Million Netflix Software Development Contest

Gay Couple Wins Second Place in Crate & Barrel’s “Ultimate Wedding Contest”

Is Getting a College Degree Overrated? Some want us to think so, and that’s a dangerous thing

First Step toward Inclusion: Learn How to Pronounce Names!