HUMAN FIRST?
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Artist Güler Altunbas presents the Human First? Exhibition at The Dax Centre, 2021.
Human First? will be showing from May 6th - June 27th 2021 at The Dax Centre, 30 Royal Parade, Kenneth Myer Building, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Vic, 3010.
Human First? is disability-led story-telling, through the medium of digital art.
This exhibition examines the artistic experience of people who identify as D/deaf & disabled, chronically ill, neurodiverse or who have lived experience of mental health issues. The artist aims to bring together a diverse cross-section of other art-makers to demonstrate the richness in cultures within the disability community.
This digital engagement project provides snapshots into the overlooked stories and practices of artists, even more neglected during the current pandemic.
Human First? will be showing from May 6th - June 27th 2021 at The Dax Centre, 30 Royal Parade, Kenneth Myer Building, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Vic, 3010.
Human First? is disability-led story-telling, through the medium of digital art.
This exhibition examines the artistic experience of people who identify as D/deaf & disabled, chronically ill, neurodiverse or who have lived experience of mental health issues. The artist aims to bring together a diverse cross-section of other art-makers to demonstrate the richness in cultures within the disability community.
This digital engagement project provides snapshots into the overlooked stories and practices of artists, even more neglected during the current pandemic.
This exhibition both online & on display at The Dax Centre will create a network of artists who are all currently practicing in and around the City of Melbourne. Networks such as these foster a sense of belonging which many members of the disability community are in need of. In a world that is increasingly isolated connections that allow people to share their individual stories are especially important.
Human First? pairs video interviews with digital portraits to tell the stories of ten D/deaf and disabled artists. The presentation of Human First? will also demonstrate Güler's process unfolding whilst each individual artist discusses their unique practice during the interviews. She animates the creation of each portrait after the interviews and integrate these into the interview videos. This will allow audience members to witness the decisions Güler makes relative to the discussion that is taking place.
Human First? pairs video interviews with digital portraits to tell the stories of ten D/deaf and disabled artists. The presentation of Human First? will also demonstrate Güler's process unfolding whilst each individual artist discusses their unique practice during the interviews. She animates the creation of each portrait after the interviews and integrate these into the interview videos. This will allow audience members to witness the decisions Güler makes relative to the discussion that is taking place.
Welcome
Press play to see the artist's interviews & digital artworks being created.
Press play to see the artist's interviews & digital artworks being created.
Nicky Tsourlenes
Photographer
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"See me through my lens"
Uncle Greg
Visual Artist
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"Standing on this land",
Sandy Jeffs
Writer/ Poet
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"Make a stern God laugh and move angels to tears"
Heidi Everett
Producer/ Illustrator/ Writer
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"Discussing around a campfire"
Bon Mott _/\_ identifies as lightning, and non-binary.
Sculptor/ Curator
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"Trickster"
Larissa MacFarlanePrintmaker/ Street artist
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"Disability pride not ableism"
Chelle Destefano
Performance artist
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"Calling out audism"
Raphael, 'The Beurologist' Kaleb,
Photographer/ Spoken word
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"Ready, set, snap"
Adam Knapper
Painter/ Designer/ Illustrator
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"Ribbon connect us"
Annabelle Pacos
Musician
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"It’ll come to you"
Artist's key messages
Below are all ten key messages by the Artist for the Human First? project. Each describe compelling ideas & messages.
'Hero Image'
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Key messages
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This exhibition both online & on display at The Dax Centre will create a network of artists who are all currently practicing in and around the City of Melbourne. Networks such as these foster a sense of belonging which many members of the disability community are in need of. In a world that is increasingly isolated connections that allow people to share their individual stories are especially important.
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“Many people with disabilities in the community are isolated and lonely. For some, the barriers in the built environment limit their ability to participate fully in community life. But for others the barriers are social and attitudinal...” (Shout Out Report, 2009). Art is an equaliser and it can empower people. It has the ability to communicate. Disabled artists are forgotten and remain invisible in the equation of the current Covid_19 pandemic which has made it even more compelling to tell their stories. This oral history needs to be documented and factored in to show the real costs – socially and politically – and still be a personal and aesthetic undertaking.
Human First? is disability-led story-telling, instigated by us, with us, from us, to everyone. It is an advocacy-based undertaking, designed to empower and provide opportunity to tell our stories. These stories will be interpreted through my own practice, utilising my experience as a youth worker, mediator, community development worker and YouTube & community radio presenter.
The project will examine the artistic experience of people whom identify as D/deaf & disabled, chronically ill, neurodiverse or who have lived experience of mental health issues. I aim to bring together a diverse cross-section of artists, to also demonstrate the richness in cultures within the disability community. These artists will also represent other cultural groups in some cases, underlining the intersectionality at play within our broader community.
Güler has been creating artworks for more than 10 years, her practice covering a wide range of disciplines including sculpture, digital artwork, the written word, painting and broadcasting. I have worked with and beside a huge number of disabled artists over that time, most of whom are still invisible to the wider art community. Human First? will showcase a cross section of these artists, showing the diverse ways in which disabled artists practice and interact within the arts in Melbourne.
The project will examine the artistic experience of people whom identify as D/deaf & disabled, chronically ill, neurodiverse or who have lived experience of mental health issues. I aim to bring together a diverse cross-section of artists, to also demonstrate the richness in cultures within the disability community. These artists will also represent other cultural groups in some cases, underlining the intersectionality at play within our broader community.
Güler has been creating artworks for more than 10 years, her practice covering a wide range of disciplines including sculpture, digital artwork, the written word, painting and broadcasting. I have worked with and beside a huge number of disabled artists over that time, most of whom are still invisible to the wider art community. Human First? will showcase a cross section of these artists, showing the diverse ways in which disabled artists practice and interact within the arts in Melbourne.
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Güler views accessibility as a creative challenge rather than as a hurdle. The tangible exhibition will take place at the Dax Centre in Parkville, with parallel accessible digital platforms for the show, both on a dedicated website as well as that of the Dax Centre. Presenting this physically as well as online allows me to show the work in a variety of formats that will meet the access needs of as many people as possible to also increase diversity in terms of audiences.
Artists with disability are largely invisible in the contemporary art scene. Many disabled artists face barriers that exclude them from the wider art community, including funding, exhibitions, and recognition. Human First? will showcase the talent in the disabled art scene and uncover the difficulties faced by the disability sector when attempting to enter the ‘mainstream’ art world. These are compelling stories that need to be told and to be heard, if they remain hidden then we are all poorer as a consequence.
Human First? Will bring disabled artists together and create a network that will foster new relationships and a sense of belonging that many disabled artists crave. By articulating the needs and wants of a cross section of artists I will create a snapshot of the disability arts community as it stands today.
It is important to her that the work is presented online as this will reach the widest possible audience and allows those who are isolated at home to experience the exhibition. Accessibility is very important to her and she will work with Arts Access Victoria to ensure the exhibition meets the highest standards, including captioning and plain English where appropriate.
Artists with disability are largely invisible in the contemporary art scene. Many disabled artists face barriers that exclude them from the wider art community, including funding, exhibitions, and recognition. Human First? will showcase the talent in the disabled art scene and uncover the difficulties faced by the disability sector when attempting to enter the ‘mainstream’ art world. These are compelling stories that need to be told and to be heard, if they remain hidden then we are all poorer as a consequence.
Human First? Will bring disabled artists together and create a network that will foster new relationships and a sense of belonging that many disabled artists crave. By articulating the needs and wants of a cross section of artists I will create a snapshot of the disability arts community as it stands today.
It is important to her that the work is presented online as this will reach the widest possible audience and allows those who are isolated at home to experience the exhibition. Accessibility is very important to her and she will work with Arts Access Victoria to ensure the exhibition meets the highest standards, including captioning and plain English where appropriate.
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Radio Interview
Triple R radio host Beth Atkinson Quinton interviewed both Güler and Adam on The Glasshouse program to talk about the Human First? exhibition currently on at the Dax Centre.
The Glasshouse is a space for spoken word artists, poets, sound makers, audio storytellers, emerging cultural leaders, thinkers, writers and anyone who celebrates story as a means of self-expression, self-representation and community-building.
The Glasshouse is a space for spoken word artists, poets, sound makers, audio storytellers, emerging cultural leaders, thinkers, writers and anyone who celebrates story as a means of self-expression, self-representation and community-building.
Click on RRR logo above to hear full interview-
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Photography by Adam Knapper.
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Supported by City of Melbourne Arts Grants.
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