Scenes of Silence^®

”The only way to learn is by encounter.”
Martin Buber, »I and you – The Dialog Principle«

The natural language of deaf people is sign language. It is a complete system of linguistic signals, visualizing thoughts and forming the basis of all social interaction. Sign language is the only human language that can cast a shadow.

Scenes of silence wants to take this fascinating language as an opportunity to bring it out of its “social shadows” into the light of publicity, to make people aware of and open for a linguistic minority. It wants to break down prejudices and change our attitude. Scenes of Silence wants to enable hearing people to gain access to the world of the deaf. The starting point is the everyday life situation of deaf people.

In this exhibition a reversion of roles is created: hearing people are torn out of social routine and familiar reception.  They discover their repertoire of nonverbal expression in order to communicate creatively by mime, gesture and body language. Deaf people, who by virtue of their experience and ability to sign are more competent, support them and become ambassadors of a world without sound which is no way poorer – but different.

Scenes of Silence does not present deaf people as “show objects” or “exotic creatures”. Scenes of Silence is not an installation simulating deafness. Scenes of Silence is a platform where hearing and non hearing people meet to show their readiness to think about social clichés and overcome prejudices.

Within the concept of Scenes of Silence, the visitors can immerse themselves into the silent world of deaf people, daring to enter a new and unknown reality. The following points can be brought across to hearing visitors:

• A better understanding about different means of communication
• Stimulating an imaginative way of turning thoughts into nonverbal signals
• Stimulating a more accurate visual perception
• Raising interest in the situation of deaf people
• Demonstration of sign language as a complete language in its own right
• Breaking down mental and social barriers

By being involved in the project, the deaf co-workers also receive valuable feedback, for here they are no longer in the position of “handicapped people”, but within the exhibition they are in fact at an advantage compared to the hearing visitors. Thus, the labels “handicapped” and “non-handicapped” are actually reversed. For the deaf employees this has the following effects:

• A job opportunity for the unemployed
• Experiencing oneself within a positive context
• Improved self-esteem
• A better understanding when dealing with hearing people
• An opportunity to learn new social skills
• An opportunity to gain key qualifications
• Contacts with employers