IN VISIBLE LANGUAGE
In Visible Language is an exhibition of work by 3 Deaf artists, Daniel Katz-Hernandez, Yiqiao Wang and Mava Vazquez, curated by resident artist Vazquez.
With Opening Reception May 9, In Visible Language seeks to bring together Deaf and hearing audiences to explore perceptions vs. realities of a common visual art language, and the spaces where meaning may be gained and lost.
The June 6 panel discussion invites curator Tabitha Jacques and Liberation Studios Director Jason Bulluck to join the exhibiting artists for a conversation with Deaf and hearing audience. In Visible Language refuses the expectation that language must be easily understood to be valid. What is seen is not always recognized and what is recognized is often filtered through systems that were never built for Deaf ways of communicating.
Mava Vazquez makes work deeply rooted in his personal intersections as a gay, Deaf male of Latin (Puerto Rican) and German heritage. His imagery is often interwoven with hidden messages. He actively addresses controversial themes to provoke thought regarding the absurdity, resistance, and celebration of his life experiences. He serves as an Associate Professor of Art and Media Design at Gallaudet University.
Yiqiao Wang is a Chinese-born Deaf artist, illustrator, and muralist based in Washington, D.C. Her artwork frequently celebrates the vibrant nature of American Sign Language (ASL), multiculturalism, and the heritage of the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Deaf community. She is widely recognized for designing public art installations, including high-profile murals for Starbucks and the Union Market. Yiqiao is a senior artist and coordinator of creative design with the Center for Visual Language and Visual Learning at Gallaudet University.
Daniel Katz-Hernandez is a multidisciplinary, Deaf artist and arts coordinator based in Washington, D.C. He is widely recognized in the creative community for his vibrant visual art, large-scale street murals, and advocacy for Deaf representation in the art world. His work employs a vibrant and metaphorical visual language to explore the lived experiences of the Deaf and hard-of-hearing community, translating the seen, the felt, and the unspoken into form. Hernandez is the Deaf Artists Residency Coordinator at the Anderson Center at Tower View in Minnesota.
Tabitha Jacques is an accomplished museum curator and arts administrator who serves as the Director of Arts, Culture, and Experience at Gallaudet University . Throughout her career, she has been a dedicated advocate for accessibility, cultural placemaking, and the exhibition of Deaf and hard-of-hearing artists. Jacques received the Champion of Belonging Award from the Association of Academic Museums and Galleries (AAMG)
Jason Bulluck is a conceptual artist, sculptor, writer, and teacher based in Washington, D.C. His work explores the intersections of critical geography, technology, Buddhism, and Black, Feminist, and Queer liberatory thought and praxis. He recently launched Liberation Gallery + Studios in Brentwood, Maryland, creating a dedicated hub for his community arts initiatives.