Online event- DIS_connect: Disability and Digital (im)mobilisation

An online panel discussion with disabled and non-disabled artists and researchers, sharing their thoughts on what stillness and mobility mean in a digitally hyperconnected society - where conversation is not limited to those who can physically access a space.

Hosted by Joe Turnbull, arts critic and Assistant Editor of Disability Arts Online, the panel will be followed by a live Q&A with questions from the audience.

Paul Virilio’s seminal text Open Sky predicted that digital technology, and in particular digital communications, would render us static. No longer needing to move in order to access information, friends, workplaces, physical destinations, he hypothesised that our future selves would be in a sense immobile. Over the course of the evening, participants will explore how these perspectives meet in the context of disability, human rights and the Coronavirus lockdown.

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Can we be more free and more mobile in our immediate social networks whilst also experiencing greater isolation and alienation from the world around us?

As digital technology increases accessibility, does it also paradoxically create new limitations and barriers via continuous data monitoring and tracking?

The worlds of science and big tech which create these new tools are not known for their diversity – where is the disability perspective in the development and social impact of new technology?

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ACCESSIBILITY
This digital event will be audio described and captioned. BSL interpretation will be provided by Rachael Veazey.

Have any questions? We would love to hear from you, contact us at [email protected]
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SPEAKERS
Joe Turnbull is Assistant Editor of Disability Arts Online. As an arts critic and journalist, he has written for the Guardian, Apollo Magazine, Frieze, a-n News, The Stage, this is tomorrow, and Garageland. He was previously Politics Editor at the Inky Needles publishing group and Publications Editor for Art Map London. In 2011 he helped establish Novel, an arts and culture magazine based in his native North East. @J_Y_Turnbull
Kin (Cultura Plasmic INC) is an artist and essayist exploring surveillance, social relations within digital space and how power operates online. Her recent work has featured in The Wrong Bienniale, Strangelove Time-Based Media Festival, Cryptic Nights, Radiophrenia and Digital Mental Health conference. @Cell_less cell-less.com

Matilda Ibini is a self-described ‘bionic playwright and screenwriter’ and previous Graeae Theatre Artist-in-Residence. Matilda’s forthcoming play A.I.D.A.N. is about a woman who is assigned a robot carer, exploring the human motivations and unconscious biases of the creators of technology. @AstroMinx

Syrus Marcus Ware is a Vanier Canada Scholar, a visual artist, community activist, researcher, youth-advocate and educator. For 12 years, he was the Coordinator of the Art Gallery of Ontario Youth Program. Syrus is currently a facilitator/designer for the Cultural Leaders Lab (Toronto Arts Council & The Banff Centre).

He is the inaugural artist-in-residence for Daniels Spectrum (2016/2017). Syrus is also a core-team member of Black Lives Matter Toronto. As a visual artist, Syrus works within the mediums of painting, installation and performance to challenge systemic oppression. Syrus’ work explores the spaces between and around identities; acting as provocations to our understandings of gender, sexuality and race. @syrusmarcusware

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HOW TO JOIN THIS EVENT

This event will take place online only, and everyone is welcome. Tickets are 'pay what you can', and there's no obligation to pay in order to attend the event. Autograph is a registered charity, all ticket proceeds support our arts and learning programmes. Please see website for full details.