Unfixed

Description

Access2Arts partnered with the Australian Network for Art & Technology (ANAT), Unlimited (UK) and Watershed (UK), in Unfixed, a research residency investigating the determination of bodies as ‘ disabled’ or ‘ abled’.

Ten Australian and UK Deaf and disabled artists selected to participate in Unfixed.

Project partners to asked, ‘ if disabled people are able to access ways of being in the world that the ‘ able-bodied’ are not, who exactly is disabled?’

Ms Jo Verrent, Senior Producer at Unlimited UK said, “it was so exciting to be working with two such pivotal organisations in Australia; they may be on the other side of the world, but we’ re each working towards the same goal”. Ms Vicki Sowry, Director of ANAT elaborated, “the intention of Unfixed is to achieve a real shift in thinking by focusing on disabled artists’ acuity for experimentation and innovation in their creativepractice.” Ms Gaelle Mellis, Creative Director of Access2Arts said the residency “is a unique program and it’ s so exciting that a non-disability-focused arts organisation such as ANAT recognises the contribution and innovation disabled artists bring to the arts.”

The selected artists represent diversity of artforms and lived experience, with half resident in Australia and the other half in the UK.

AUS

Trish Adams, who creates experiential, interactive installations in collaboration with scientists + researchers.

Sarah Houbolt, a circus and physical theatre performer who specialises in aerials, acrobatics and hula hoops.

Michele Saint-Yves, a poet and playwright who explores and evokes the lived experience of ‘ otherness’.

Daniel Savage, whose digital and installation works investigate the influence and effect of perception.

John Willanksi, a digital artist, filmmaker, puppeteer and creator of a bespoke doodle-based visual language.

UK

Jane Gauntlett, whose interactive live-art works explore ideas of empathy, neurology and accessibility.

Catherine Long, a dancer who interrogates disability and illness discourses, and the questions these raise.

Aiden Moesby, who creates responsive artistic interventions to encourage personal + communal dialogue.

Sue Williams, an illustrator and writer especially interested in notions of perception and perspective.

Caglar Kimyoncu, a digital and video artist as well as curator and arts consultant.

The Unfixed Residency was thrilling, confronting, and ultimately a great success.

In 2016, the Australian artists traveled to the UK for the next stage of the project undertaking a residency at Watershed in Bristol UK.