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Dance and disability come together at international exhibition

11 October 2013

 

An inspirational artist who uses his work to address taboos around disability is taking his animations to an historic German museum for a nine month exhibition exploring the social and cultural impact of dance.

Simon McKeown, a fine artist and Reader in Post-Production and Animation at Teesside University, will show his world renowned Motion Disabled Unlimited at the Deutsches Hygiene-Museum in Dresden.

Motion Disabled Unlimited is a stunning digital installation which uses animation to show how disabled athletes move – it featured as part of the London 2012 Paralympics.

‘Dance! Moves That Move Us’ will be exhibited at the Deutsches Hygiene-Museum from 12 October 2013, to 20 July next year. It looks at dance both as an art in its own right and as part of everyday culture. The focus of the exhibition is how both these aspects of dance meet and influence each other.

The project also emphasises the fundamental dimension of intoxication, ritual and ecstasy that has always been found in dance as a religious practice, and that continues to play an essential part in modern dance phenomena such as rave and techno.

Simon, who has worked at Teesside University since 2004 in the School of Computing, said: 'I am really excited to be part of this exhibition and demonstrate the movement of disabled people in a new and innovative way. 'The work I am supplying will be from Motion Disabled Unlimited and will feature lots of physical dynamic movement from Paralympians, as well as some earlier work which features dances from international performers.

'In a post-modern dance world, movement can also be viewed as dance, so it’s less about formulaic dance as you would see on Strictly Come Dancing, but something more open and adventurous. The work is being shown in the context of a movement orientated exhibition and programme.'

Motion Disabled Unlimited has already featured in exhibitions across the world but this is the first time it will be viewed to explore the movement of dance.

Viewers are given the opportunity to watch a series of motion capture based work featuring Paralympians. It gives people the chance to reflect and see what movement is like for disabled people when they are walking, jumping or swimming.

One of Simon’s models for the animated production was Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson who was born with spina bifida and was one of the most successful disabled athletes in the UK. Baroness Grey-Thompson is also an honorary Doctor of Laws at Teesside University.

Simon, who is himself disabled, was born with Osteogenesis Imperfecta, a condition causing extremely fragile bones. He says the condition has made him what he is and has allowed him to develop his work.

'There is still a cultural taboo around disability which is a big issue in the UK,” explained Simon.

'This is an opportunity to look, see and be fascinated by beautiful motions and bodies and break that taboo.'


More about Motion Disabled Unlimited
 
 
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