‘Lives We Cannot Live’, a new and thought-provoking photographic exhibition by documentary film-maker and photographer Jeremy Jeffs, presented by The ME Association, will be on display at the iconic Oxo Tower Wharf on London’s South Bank (24 September – 28 September 2025). The exhibition reflects the stark realities of daily life for people living with ME/CFS through a collection of more than 50 striking images.
ME (myalgic encephalomyelitis), also known as CFS (chronic fatigue syndrome), is a multisystemic disease. Symptoms include profound fatigue, sleep disturbance, post-exertional malaise, cognitive difficulties and a range of other symptoms, including pain, headaches, nausea and intolerance to lights and noise.
The exhibition showcases the visually impactful images of more than 20 people from across the country; some with ME/CFS so severely that they are confined to bed, some are able to work part-time, and many others who struggle to simply keep up with a basic existence.
Photographer Jeremy Jeffs, whose studio is based in London, also lives with ME/CFS. He said, “The idea for the exhibition was sparked by my own experiences of ME/CFS, and my aim was to capture a sense of what this isolating illness is like for people in the ME/CFS community. ‘Lives We Cannot Live’ is a series of documentary photographs which shows people in the room and places that the disease traps them, and honestly communicates their personal experiences.”
It is estimated that more than 403,00 people in the UK live with ME/CFS. In addition, 950,000 people unable to recover from a Covid infection could meet the diagnostic criteria for ME/CFS. This could mean that 1,350,000 adults and children in the UK are affected by ME/CFS. This represents a real public health crisis, and the photography exhibition aims to create a greater understanding of this disease and the impact that it has on people’s lives.
“The ME Association is incredibly proud to present ‘Lives We Cannot Live’ which brings ME/CFS into the spotlight. The Oxo Gallery is a stunning space to visually convey peoples’ emotive stories, using powerful images to present a unique perspective that will leave a lasting impression on viewers. We hope it drives greater awareness and understanding of ME/CFS in society for the thousands of people who must navigate the challenges of this disease every day and often feel invisible and forgotten by society,“
said Martine Ainsworth-Wells, trustee and campaigns director at The ME Association.
The ‘Lives We Cannot Live’ photography exhibition is at Oxo Gallery, Oxo Tower Wharf, Bargehouse Street, South Bank, London, SE1 9PP from Wednesday 24th September – Sunday 28th September 2025. The event is open daily between 11 am and 6 pm, admission free.
The ME Association (MEA) is a UK charity that launched in 1980 and supports people with ME/CFS and Long Covid. It is committed to working with its members and the ME/CFS community and is focused on improving the quality of life of those affected.
It provides professional support and expert information; funds medical research to establish causes, biomedical markers, and treatments; and educates and informs the broad eco-system of media, politicians, educators, health and social care providers and the commercial sector.