Deaf Dunceys

Deaf Dunceys is a series of performance and textile works focused on Chelle's exploration of her Deaf identity and the theft of her right to sign in Auslan when she was in primary school in the 1980's. A form of audism was that they forced the Deaf students to speak and disallowed them to sign.

Audists College - a short Auslan performance around the slapping of her hands by the nun who didn't want her to sign.

The performer is wearing a red robe, similar to the nun's black and white robe. Red represents standing up for her right to sign and having a voice. The colourful hat, as opposed to the black or white plain dunce hats, celebrates having a voice and speaking out against the audism.

Supported by Creative Victoria and Auspicious Arts Projects

Textile work - the red robe and celebratory hat

The installation

video performance projected onto the robe, hat in front of robe.

​This artwork performance was supported by a grant from the Australia Council of the Arts

​This artwork creation was supported by a grant from Creative Victoria