Perceptions @ Ottawa City Hall Art Gallery

Seven artists with a disability or who are deaf
reinterpret artworks in the Fine Art collection
of the City of Ottawa. The exceptional approach:
To explore and challenge the beholder's perception,
and to make artworks accessible to a heterogeneous

and diverse audience – with and without disabilities.

I was in particular impressed by an artwork by
Jolanta Lapiak (Edmonton) “Two Thousand and One
Years” (2010). In the video, shown in the exhibition,
she asks in sigh language how she – belonging to the
“eyeing people” - feel about the “hearing people” for
2001 years. Her scream remains silent in the video.

She explains how the Phonocentric point of view that
understands the speech as central point of language,
suppresses the communication of deaf people. Her
artwork (mixed media on 4 panels) shows a female
body that represents textuality and lingual violence.
It refers to Shala Bahrami's “Mille et une Nuits.
Sur la Route de la Soie Teintée de Safran et de
Pétrole” ( 2006, photographic transfer and paint on wood).

City Hall Art Gallery, Ottawa: "Perceptions" booklet ©2001-2011 City of Ottawa

The little booklet that you will find in the
exhibition includes an introduction about the
exhibition concept and a DVD with some very
enlightening features. It includes for example
pictures of all shown artworks, statements by
the artists in video, the catalogue text and
a list of works. It's a great source of information!

The show ends on January 16th; so take your last
chance to see it!

Facts:
Perceptions – Reinterpreting the City of Ottawa's Fine Art Collection
Ottawa City Hall Art Gallery, 110 Laurier Avenue West
December 3, 2010 to January 16, 2011
Ottawa City Hall Art Gallery