BEAUTIFULLY DIVERSE
It is time to transcend the normal and embrace the beauty of diversity.
Disability is an issue that affects a large proportion of the global population, representing approximately 15% of people worldwide. Furthermore, the percentage is expected to grow as the population age and chronic diseases increase.
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2006) established that disability results from the interaction between the individual characteristics of a person and the context in which they live. Material barriers, such as a broken elevator, or intangible obstacles, such as discrimination, can limit freedom of choice and the ability to act. Therefore, collective action and shared responsibility are needed to address this issue effectively.
Focusing on environment and context as determinants of disability means changing the dominant culture that expects and considers only performing bodies and minds and forgets the value of human diversity. That means recognising individual needs and re-think events, streets and collective places to make them accessible, shareable and enjoyable by anyone, with or without disabilities. An inclusive and careful approach to each person’s needs can bring innovative and disruptive scenarios for everyone’s benefit.
VISIBLE AND INVISIBLE DISABILITY
Disability can be visible, such as physical or invisible, such as mental health disorders, cognitive dysfunction, hearing and vision problems, and other health conditions, such as diabetes, intellectual-relational disability, chronic pain
or fatigue. Specifically, people with disabilities have in common the lack of opportunities, low accessibility and discrimination that do not make possible a fulfilled and self-determined life.
I am very happy to have been called as AMBASSADOR, after my victory in the previous edition, for the POSTERHEROES 2023
I wanted to resort to one of the ICONS of the art world, the Venus de Milo, that seems to me summarizes the discourse of beauty and disability literally "carved in stone ". What is more beautiful than class sculptures? For years they have been a model of beauty and a source of great inspiration. They have suffered losses, breakages, we could say disabilities. But this has not prevented us from grasping its great value and beauty.
Classical art fascinates us and becomes symbolic for our present. They came to us as they are, and that’s how we love them.
Thank you POSTERHEROES for this opportunity.