Deaf Spaces - The Cone Performers

Chelle has been exploring the notion of safe space and her experiences within feeling safe in the Deaf and hearing communities. Chelle informs through her textile cones, how she feels in spaces, whether she feels safe or not. Chelle says the people that are her safe space are those that can communicate with her either in Auslan or by speech and way of hearing her voice clearly.

The cones signify a portion of safe space in the Deaf community and is derived from a moment where she learnt the true meaning of safe space through a forum she attended online for Deaf theatre, in June 2020. Chelle attributes that moment to her cones and that the cones in that form of colour, design and decoration is a playful response to her recent poetry performances and informs of her next step to educate hearing on Deaf culture and safe spaces.