Where there is a will, there is a world: kanvas shows the way

Muhammad Yusuf, Features Writer

kanvas, the artistic incubator and immersive art space located at Al Khayat Avenue, Al Quoz, Dubai’s newest cultural district, has inaugurated its exhibition ‘Art With Disabilities’ by Poliforma Studio (Oct. 28 — Dec. 23). An inspiring journey through video inserts, 3D projections and four interactive installations, it narrates the life stories of 11 extraordinary individuals who, despite living or having lived with physical or sensory disabilities, transformed the world through their creativity, vision, determination and accomplishments. ‘Art With Disabilities’ is not only an exploration of the profound achievements of the 11 artists, musicians, athletes, and scientists, but is an effort to bring out the best in ourselves and push us to motivate others do so too.The immersive storytelling — or “docu-immersive”, as Balint Tordai, founder of kanvas would have it — with its cutting-edge digital displays and interactive installations, invites visitors to engage with the world as the 11 incredible individuals did and do, through uniquely sensory experiences. Featured participants include Frida Kahlo, Mexican painter, whose physical pain inspired iconic self-portraits; Stevie Wonder, legendary musician who revolutionised soul and funk despite being blind from birth; Yayoi Kusama, groundbreaking contemporary artist who channels her mental health struggles into mesmerising artworks; Ludwig van Beethoven, the composer who created some of his most famous symphonies while being completely deaf; Vincent van Gogh, renowned post-impressionist painter who converted his struggles with mental health into iconic masterpieces, leaving an indelible mark on the world of art; Helen Keller, author and activist, who broke barriers for blind and deaf communities; Ray Charles, pioneering soul musician who shattered barriers as a blind African American artist and became a music industry icon; Louis Braille, brilliant inventor of the Braille system, who transformed communication and accessibility for the visually impaired; Stephen Hawking, renowned astrophysicist who overcame the challenges of ALS or the fatal type of motor neuron disease, to unravel the mysteries of the universe; Erik Weihenmayer, the first blind climber to conquer Mount Everest, inspiring adventurers around the globe with his remarkable feats; and Bethany Hamilton, professional surfer, who bravely resumed her career after losing an arm in a shark attack, proving resilience in the face of adversity (spoiler alert: she is a mother of four, too).

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Visitors are invited to challenge their minds by engaging their senses in unconventional ways by exploring Braille writing, hearing music through vibrations, communicating through hand signs and relying on the senses of taste, scent, and touch. This part of the exhibition demonstrates how people with disabilities expanded the limits of their sensory experiences, with the interactive installations providing insight into how they perceive the world. The methods through which they explore the world are defined here, helping us learn from their achievements similarly. The installations are called “conscious synesthesia”; synesthesia is a condition where one hears music in colours, mixing the functions of the senses. The first installation is dedicated to the blind and their remarkable ability to navigate through touch. Visitors have the opportunity here to try reading Braille.

 Vincent van Gogh thinks up his next painting.

The second installation is a black box, specially created for the exhibition, customised for people with hearing impairments. It translates sound into vibrations, offering a glimpse into how people with hearing disorders experience music. Guests will engage with music in a completely new way – one which connects sound to touch, and inviting them to ‘hear’ through touch. The third and fourth installations are purpose-built for people without both hearing and sight, like Helen Keller, who inspired the exhibition. A blind or deaf person can read words by feeling the touch of another person’s hand, through “hand alphabet”. 

The exhibition is designed to be fully accessible, ensuring that every visitor, including those with disabilities, can engage with the art in meaningful ways. The digital presentations are fully adapted for people with disabilities, since they feature subtitles, audio guides, booklets in Braille and a vest designed with the latest technology, specially for people with hearing impairments. Admission is free for people with disabilities and for children under 12 years old. ‘Art With Disabilities’ at its core is about breaking boundaries – not just in the realm of disability, but how society should view success, creativity, and human potential. By celebrating the stories of people who have overcome, adapted, or ignored their limitations, it is a powerful reminder of the triumph of the human will.

“Each participant in this exhibition has found a way to change the world, and their contributions challenge us to question the limitations we place on ourselves and others,” said Polina Gerasimova, exhibition creator. “We hope visitors leave with a newfound sense of empathy, awareness, and inspiration.” kanvas is an immersive venue and incubator for art-plugged-in projects. From ground-breaking digital art installations to interactive multimedia experiences and pioneering hybrid phygital exhibitions, its ultimate goal is to bring the latest forms of art close to audiences. To this end, kanvas encourages its network of artists and creatives to make the most of its fully responsive, multi-sensory environment, immersing visitors in a world where art is mediated by cutting-edge technology. Poliforma is a studio for visual and interactive experiments in the field of digital arts. It creates audio visual dance performances, interactive installation, visual sets for operas, theatre productions and live concerts. It has developed its own system to adapt visual art for people with disabilities.