Głusza

“Deaf Land” is a project that includes an exhibition created by both hearing and d/Deaf curators, offering a chance to explore a vision of the world constructed through signs and images. It narrates how language influences our perception of reality and brings us closer to the little-known yet fascinating culture and art of the d/Deaf community. It is an exhibition dedicated to the communication, culture, and art of the Deaf. The goal was to reach both the Deaf and the hearing, to raise awareness of the complexity of the issue, and to highlight the need for socio-cultural changes. (The term ‘Deaf’ with an uppercase D refers to individuals who identify with and actively participate in the Deaf community, embracing a cultural identity that includes a shared sign language and common cultural experience).

The exhibition guides us through the intricacies of typography, multisensory experiences, and multimedia. It prompts reflection on the significance of language in cultural development and understanding the differences between phonetic and spatial-visual languages, including all sign languages. “Deaf Land” is an interesting example of an exhibition done by d/Deaf and hard of hearing people that turns the perspective around. The exhibition shows the works dedicated to communication issues and tackles the subjects of Deaf Art and audism (a form of discrimination directed against deaf people). “Deaf Land” is accompanied by a set of video-articles available in the Polish and international sign language.

Deaf people and people with hearing impairment; accessible also for blind people and people with visual impairment and people with autism spectrum disorder.

Video-articles in International and Polish Sign Language, audio recordings; induction loop; in the future, it will be made available in a mobile form as a software / a set of materials and recommendations, allowing for arrangement in new spaces.

GAG – Grupa Artystów Głuchych (Group of Deaf Artists), Michał Justycki

Co-financed from EU funds + the contribution of the Silesian region self-government + co-financing from the Minister of Culture and National Heritage

Potentially easily replicable / adaptable thanks to a software dedicated to adapting the exhibition in diverse spaces.

The exhibition made it possible for the creators to deepen their contact with Deaf artists like Michał Justycki and organisations, like Deaf Artists Group (GAG – Grupa Artystów Głuchych in Polish) that they worked with previously. It was the first exhibition of its kind, telling the story of the Deaf from a cultural perspective. It promoted Deaf artists, as well as Deaf art which is not very well known outside the community. Along with other initiatives that started around 2016, focused on and engaging Deaf community, it raised awareness of Deaf issues. In 2019, the Accessibility Act was introduced, which increased interest in this topic. The exhibition was very necessary, and changes are already noticeable.

“This was the first exhibition of its kind to tell the story of the Deaf from a cultural perspective. The aim was to reach Deaf and hearing people, to raise awareness of the complexity of the issue and the need for socio-cultural change. I would like to see another exhibition presenting the work of Deaf artists. The curators – Michał Burdziński, Michał Justycki, Agnieszka Kołodziejczak – have access to extremely valuable material and artists worth talking about.” Dagmara Stanosz, coordinator and chief curator of the “Głusza” project