★★★★
Deaf Action’s Edinburgh Deaf Festival is incredible insofar that it encompasses so many creative disciplines. Their curation of two deaf artists, with on-site painting and workshops is a testament to their commitment in platforming deaf work.
Natasha Lumley’s portrait Alexia signing A in BSL is almost biblical.Whilst the subject of Alexia in the foreground is naturalistic, her expression neutral, the shape and creases of her blue shirt act as backdrop to the foregrounded hands and arms. The detail of the finger touching the right thumb could be from The Creation of Adam yet Alexia is alone, perhaps as an act of self-creation. This is teamed with a red mandala print in the background, it’s circular pattern framing the back of the head, almost making Alexia a saint. Perhaps a play on the ableist narratives around deaf people, and how they are put on pedestals.
Contrast this with Faceless Figures, possibly a bar scene rendered in green and red, a figurative oil painting that speaks to the artists mission of showing ‘an inner world, the thresholds between deafness and hearing, isolation and connection’.
Rashi Amatya’s Women Empowerment sequence of paintings contain more magical and fantastical imagery. This repetition of multiple faces, sharing eyes, with up stretched hair that flowers and merges into golds and reds. It’s perhaps a comment on Amatya’s international scope, and centring disadvantaged groups, that each repetition of this three-headed being is shown as different races and cultures. The veiled women with sunflowers and blue background was particularly striking.
Natasha Lumley Exhibition and Rashmi Art House are on at Deaf Action, Princess Joanna Room until August 17th
