Language is the only homeland
ongoing
Language and culture are interrelated. The way in which we think about the world is directly influenced by the language system we use to communicate about it. What kind of complex processes evolve when this language is visual?
There seemed to be a long history of controversy over spoken versus visual language, and between those who recognize deafness as a disability, and those who see it as a cultural minority and difference in the human experience
Language is the only homeland examines not only the lived experience of Deaf individuals but also the increasing importance of visual literacy in a world dominated by images and digital technologies. It addresses the urgency of understanding how we process visual information and challenges the power imbalances created by linguistic differences.
The project expands the discourse beyond deafness, questioning broader constructs of normality, identity, and societal expectations. It explores the intersection of visual literacy, modern mental health paradigms, and personal experience, offering a new way of thinking about disability, difference, and belonging. Just as melancholy was once viewed as part of one’s personality, today’s medicalized view of conditions like depression exemplifies the shift from understanding to commodification. Deafness, in this context, becomes an optic to challenge not only linguistic and cultural norms but also the pressures of modern society, highlighting the deeply human need to be heard and understood.
