2007: Art and Disability

Disability is a state of not being whole. Why that happens can be for myriad reasons; some can be avoided while others are beyond our control. But what is useful to examine is the way in which we address or confront what these disabilities are and how they incapacitate us.

We are all disabled in one way or other. We have different disabilities at various points in our lives: whether they are associated with ourselves, our parents, families, relatives, friends or partners.

Are our disabilities self-inflicted? How much do we allow society to disable us? How do we fight and educate others? What are the different means we employ to educate different publics and audiences on different disabilities?

Art has been the strongest means of expressing various disabilities, enabling societies to ponder on aspects of dysfunctional living, dystopia, disenchantment, disengagement, disconnect, disaffection, disappointment and disbelief.

But art is also more than the mere expression of these states. It compels us to manoeuvre around them, grapple with them and eventually emerge from them with a new way of expression and overcoming of these conditions of dis-ease.

For better or worse, media, technology and art circulate information at such a rapid pace that today, whilst being disabled by natural catastrophes, corruption, poverty, discrimination and various forms of social injustice, we inevitably encounter fatigue. And fatigue inspires indifference, saps motivation, dampens courage and persuades us to stay a little longer as a refugee of our own comfort zones.

As a human race, we face a crisis when that which protects us also condemns us. Has media and art, in bringing awareness of various needs to the global village, ironically make us immune to the numerous tragedies we face every day?

In this context, what then is the efficacy of art when confronted with the theme of disability? Does it enable or disable?

The M1 Singapore Fringe Festival 2007 throws the spotlight on Art and Disability as the theme is contemporary and urgent. We hope that you will join us in addressing the complex issues of disability and make this festival a site where different views contest and spar dynamically.