LAURE D'UTRUY

The elephant in the room is a project exploring disability rights and representation of minority in Egyptian society, through the life of a unique person, called WeirDo.

Egypt, 2023-2024

As we sit in Omar’s aka WeirDo’s room, while he paints, one of his favourite tracks blasts:
“Maybe they were gonna be a painter
until somebody said they couldn‘t paint
Maybe thought they was the next Jean-Michel’
Til somebody yelled, „No, you ain’t”
Who said it would be impossible?”

The lyrics echo WeirDo’s story. Despite the limits imposed by his disability and society, he became a painter and pursues his dreams. Through his work, he exposes his emotions as a person with disability.

He goes by the name WeirDo. “I call myself WeirDo because I feel like an outsider. I’m different from everyone else in the room. I chose this name to embrace it instead of being ashamed of it. It‘s empowering”. He also expresses his personality through styling, shaking the traditional society around him.

WeirDo was born in Cairo, Egypt. At 9, he was diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, leaving him with physical disabilities and a short life expectancy. Many of his muscles including his arms, are weak. He depends on caregivers daily. 

WeirDo is discriminated as the public space in Egypt is barely inclusive. He also lives with strong stigma about his condition. Regardless, he fights for disability rights, inclusion and representation.

Full portfolio available on request.