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Thursday, 20 August
Big Picture Festival
Film Spotlight
Inclusivity
Disability Awareness
We caught up with disabled artist Corinne to talk about their short film Behind âThe Severed Wingâ - a poetic and evocative work where birdsong inspires a vision that reaches beyond the limits of disability.
In our conversation, Corinne shares the inspiration behind the film, explores its meaning and themes and reflects on what they hope audiences will take away from experiencing the film on screen.
Behind 'The Severed Wing' will be screening as part of Big Picture Film Festival 2026 at The White Swan Hotel, Stratford-Upon-Avon on Sunday 6th September at 12pm. Get your pay-as-you-feel tickets for this special screening, here.
âWatch me a disabled artist confined to bed transform into a bird. Bed confinement is extremely isolating but I live by the woods and hear bird songs from my window daily. I wish to join my feathered friends, escape my confinement and transform into my true self.â - Corinne
The title of your film, Behind 'The Severed Wing', is striking. What does it mean to you?
Thank you. itâs about the passing of Dad and his/my obsession with birds. For me, since the mobility in my legs has decreased Iâve developed an obsession with wings. Dad loved birds and often said If luck was on his side he would have been born a bird.
Nature seems to have a powerful presence in your work. What role does the natural world play in your creative practice?
I live by the woods but am unable to visit them. Iâm very lucky as I hear bird song daily from my bedroom window and it feels like the birds are keeping me company. I like to think Dad is one of these birds.Â
Your work invites audiences to think beyond conventional ideas of disability. How do you hope it challenges or expands those perspectives?
For too long people like myself who struggle to leave our homes and/or beds, have a diminished presence within society. The Severed Wing is a call for change, which I hope gives visibility to experiences of confinement. I wish for live- streamed or remote performance art to be programmed equality to in person performances. Equally important is greater access to performance art (and art in general) for audiences who struggle to leave their homes or beds.Â
Behind 'The Severed Wing' is screening as part of Big Picture Film Festival's celebration of films that inspire new perspectives. What does it mean to you to share your work with audiences in this context?
Its such an honour to have âBehind The Severed Wingâ shown alongside Kes. Like Billy, the filmâs protagonist, my Grandparents grew up in a mining town. They taught me to take great pride in our familyâs working class identity. Billyâs struggles with the education system remind me of my own experiences.Â
If audiences could take away just one thought from Behind The Severed Wing, what would you hope it would be?
Physical confinement to bed is challenging, but for me the hardest thing is feeling excluded from society. Please donât ever forget people like myself who struggle to leave our homes and beds, many of us were hear long before the pandemic, long before lockdown and we still are.Â
Acknowledgements
Initially piloted as part of LOWRY's Scratch Nights X Galleries in May 2024. The Severed Wing was commissioned by LOWRY and made possible with thanks to funding from Arts Council England. Also supported by Attenborough Arts Centre, Art Riot Collective, #CovConnects and QUAD.
Special thanks to Corinne for this interview!
To book your pay-as-you-feel tickets for Behind 'The Severed Wing', click here.
To explore the full Big Picture Film Festival programme, click here.
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