Global screening captures people with disabilities in motion
3 December 2010
The event is part of a synchronised global screening of the project, which was originally funded by a Wellcome Trust People Award. From Sri Lanka to Saudi Arabia and from Argentina to Australia, a total of 15 countries worldwide are participating in the event - which was organised by VSA, the international organisation on arts and disability - to raise awareness about the rights of people with disabilities.
Simon McKeown is a Reader in Computer Animation at Teesside University in North East England and one of Britain's most experienced 3D animators. His groundbreaking 'Motion Disabled' project is a unique record of the movements of people with different impairments.
Fourteen actors with disabilities were 'motion captured' while performing a range of activities, from kickboxing to riding a bicycle, and their different movements were recorded as animation data. This was then mapped onto 3D models, or avatars, to replicate exactly the movements of the original actor, using the same technology that created characters such as Gollum in the 'Lord of the Rings' trilogy.
The premise of the video is presenting images of different body forms and movement stripped of their social baggage. It enables the viewer to view disability in a neutral way and raises questions about societies' headlong rush to normality, prompting the question: do we value difference?
Clare Matterson, Director of Medical Humanities and Engagement at the Wellcome Trust, said: "'Motion Disabled' is a beautiful celebration of the human body in all of its forms and we are delighted to have been able to support the project. We hope that the live projections around the globe to mark International Day for Persons of Disabilities will go some way to challenging people's perceptions of disabled and able-bodied."
Artist Simon McKeown said: "I'm very proud to partner with VSA to raise awareness about the rights of people with disabilities worldwide. 'Motion Disabled' uses 3D motion capture of real people with disabilities undertaking their everyday activities. The work showcases beautiful unique body types and movements and my hope is that this art sparks conversations and changes attitudes about disability."
"There are 650 million people with disabilities - 10 per cent of the world's population. On December 3, we're making a statement that everyone deserves inclusion and access to equal opportunities," said Soula Antoniou, VSA president.
'Motion Disabled' has been exhibited in the Smithsonian International Gallery in Washington, USA, and in South Korea. In Liverpool, the video is set to be a highlight of this year's DaDaFest International, the biggest disability and deaf arts festival in the world: as the finale to the festival, it will be projected onto the George's Dock Ventilation Tunnel.
The following countries are also participating in the synchronised screening:
Argentina - Buenos Aires - VSA Argentina
Australia - West Perth - Disability Services Commission
India - Kolkata - Indian Institute of Cerebral Palsy
Ireland - Dublin - Arts & Disability Ireland
Iceland - Akureyri - University of Akureyri, Department of Education
Kosovo - Pristina - The Kosova Art Gallery
Latvia - Riga - Apeirons
Mexico - Mexico City - CONADIS
Russia - Moscow - Perspektiva
Saudi Arabia - Jeddah - The Help Centre (VSA Saudi Arabia)
Senegal - Louga - Nakku Nattu
Sri Lanka - Colombo - ESCO Rehab Sri Lanka
UK - Glasgow - Glasgow Met
UK - Liverpool – George's Dock Ventilation Tunnel
Uruguay - Montevideo - VSA Uruguay (VSA arts de Uruguay)
USA - Los Angeles (CA) - Echo Park Film Center
USA - Arlington (VA) - Artisphere
USA - Claremont (CA) - First Street Gallery Art Center
USA - Boston (MA) - VSA Massachusetts
Image: A still from 'Motion Disabled' by Simon McKeown.
