Exhibition floor talk

with Chloe Wigg

About the exhibition:

Oh MG is an exhibition by Chloe Wigg who lives with Myasthenia Gravis (MG), a rare disease that causes rapid fatigue of the voluntary muscles. The exhibition features multilayered portraits, upcycled medication bottles transformed into snowflake sculptures, and a wall drape of crocheted snowflakes—each one donated by someone living with MG and their supporters. This exhibition celebrates the resilience of those living with MG while raising awareness about the disease.

The snowflake motif carries a dual significance: it symbolises the individuality of each person’s experience with MG, as no two people present the same symptoms, and it reflects the challenges of living with a heat-sensitive disease. The Queensland climate, with its intense summer heat, exacerbates the symptoms of MG, making the snowflake—a symbol of cold—both ironic and poignant.

The upcycled medication bottles, collected by MG sufferers over four years, are transformed into intricate snowflake sculptures, underscoring the fragility of both the medication relied upon for survival and the human body itself. The crochet snowflakes, generously donated by the community, embody the collective spirit of those living with MG, showing the power of unity and shared experience.

The portraits highlight the impact of MG on the face, symbolising challenges like double vision, swallowing difficulties, and breathing problems—complications that can drastically affect daily life and self-expression. Through this exhibition, the artist invites viewers to understand the personal, often invisible, struggle of those living with MG and celebrates the strength and community spirit that unites them.