This time, the exhibition catalog is also available in braille and the art gallery invites to viewings with both audio description and viewings in sign language, all to make art accessible to more people.
In my eyes, contemporary art has not been particularly accessible to people with norm-breaking functionality, says the exhibition's curator Lucy Smalley.
Supporting studio
The art gallery wants to change this, also by starting a supporting studio with an accompanying gallery, where twelve artists with functional variation will be offered a place for their creation and get help with administration, applications and digital visibility.
The supporting studio is the first of its kind in Sweden.
Art becomes better when more voices are allowed to participate and be heard, says Lucy Smalley.
David Cheung, who will work in the new studio, is represented in "Speaking volumes" with several works, including a 20-meter long wall drawing that is also a sound art work.
"Part of my brain"
This is a part of my brain, how I think, says David Cheung.
It's the first time he's working on such a large scale.
It was like jumping into cold water. It's a challenge, but I love challenges.
Artists from supporting studios in the USA and the UK also participate in the exhibition.
Monica Valentine, who is affiliated with the supporting studio Creative Growth Art Centre in California, cannot see but creates colorful sculptures with beads and sequins.
She feels the colors with her hands: Blue is cold, orange is in between and the favorite color red is warm.
All these works are made with the help of the sense of touch, says Nadia Ghani, who works at Creative Growth Art Centre.
Cecilia Klintö/TT
Facts: ”Speaking volumes”
TT
The exhibition is shown at Malmö art gallery from September 12 to January 18 next year.
Six artists with different forms of functional variation participate: David Cheung, Malmö, Mattias Johansson, Stockholm, Alan Faulds, Edinburgh, Mawuena Kattah, London, Monica Valentine, Oakland, and Nicole Storm, Oakland.
