Art Speaks All Languages

My body is sacred not my artwork

Art speaks all languages, but are we willing to listen?  A piece of art can speak to anyone or it can speak to no one. Art is the same whether it hangs in a gallery in New York, Tokyo, London or Brisbane, Australia. Whatever the language of the audience the same message is being delivered.

Art is consistent across all classes of society, it draws the homeless and the Australian Senate, however the viewer decides for themselves what they are to receive. The challenge of any artist is to evoke emotion from the audience and sometimes sell itself.

Art does not judge, and yet it is judged. Its image, technical strength, content and message is continually challenged by those who view it.  Art should promote discussion and evoke strong reactions.

Unless it is by a renowned artists, questions of its background and of its creator are not asked, all that really matters is the response.  So whether the artwork is created by a Jew or a Christian; a bisexual or straight person; an abled-bodied person or person with a disability is irrelevant.

Just as the art lover judges the appearance of the artwork, so does society judge the appearance of the artist, especially when they are visually different to others. This difference is not visible to the buyer so why should a curator judge on the grounds of disability? Surely like all artists, the work of artists with disability should be judged on its merit.

The audience is not asked to judge the artist, only the quality of their work. Artwork and creativity should be allowed to speak for itself.  I see no need to distinguish between abilities of the artist unless making an argument on the outstanding nature of their work.

"As an artist, once my artwork is hanging on a gallery wall, my disability is irrelevant." Judith Baker. For my art to continue to be socially relevant my disability needs to step into the background. You the audience should allow my work to speak for itself.