Adam has Neurofibromatosis Type 1, a rare genetic condition that causes excess body tissue to grow predominantly on his face.

The artist Dagmar Bennett created a hyper-realistic sculpture of Adam, and through the tactile processes of this sculpture has allowed people to explore Adam’s personality and outlook on life.
“After hearing his story, and developing a friendship with Adam I felt inspired by his positive attitude, bravery and determination to break down barriers regarding how people with a disfigurement are viewed and treated. In my portrait, I was determined to capture these qualities and show him as an individual.”

Dagmar will be exhibiting her sculpture of Adam and discussing the process, purpose and impact of this work

Dagmar thrives on celebrating differences between people, making art to stimulate thought on the social norms presented to us every day. Her sculpture of Adam Pearson was created to help promote people with a disfigurement or disability being valued as equal. Her traditional sculpting methods in clay are entwined in a strong belief that skill and technique are especially important to an artist being able to portray ideas and concepts fully. Dagmar also believes that art can be a powerful tool to change perceptions; as Gunther von Hagens said – “The breaking of taboos sometimes is the price demanded by creativity.“

Meet Adam and Dagmar again on Saturday 1 Dec at the RAREfest exhibition at the Guildhall 11am – 4pm Tickets https://rarefest1dec2018.eventbrite.co.uk

Please visit his profile for more info and video footgae of his work.

Abbi was born with osteogenesis imperfecta, a rare genetic bone condition also known as brittle bones. A founding member of the Cambridge Rare Disease Network whilst at university, Abbi has since moved to London, where she works in advertising. In her spare time, Abbi enjoys writing and disability rights advocacy for charities Scope and the Brittle Bone Society, and last year made her stand-up debut on the BBC Ouch stage at Edinburgh Fringe.

James performed at the closing of the 2012 Paralympics in London alongside Coldplay with the British Paraorchestra. He has also performed with them at the Symphony Hall, Birmingham and at a TED Talk in Brussels.  With Trevor Hughes, he has developed a number of recital programmes for recorder with organ and piano including several of their own transcriptions, arrangements and dedications.

For 12 years he worked at RNIB supporting blind musicians in all aspects of making music.

Please visit his website for concert dates, articles and to buy his debut CD Echoes of Arcadia.

Unique Feet are a collective of 10 children, each with a different rare condition, some are the only child in the world to be known to have this diagnosis. The group represents the powerful bond that acceptance and friendship bring to 10 unique individuals who have their rarity in common.

Wayne McGregor’s current production ‘Autobiography‘ explores his own genetic makeup and identity after he had his genome sequenced at the campus near Cambridge. As McGregor explains he has turned “his attention to the body as an archive, as he embarks on a cycle of choreographic portraits illuminated by the sequencing of his own genome”.