Introduction :
The collective of deaf individuals is heterogeneous and diverse, but it is crucial to have a comprehensive, unbiased, and non-reductive view of deaf individuals. Diversity extends to the communication modes a deaf person may use throughout their life and based on their needs. Sign Language is the natural and unique language of deaf individuals, representing a social, cultural, and linguistic response to hearing loss. This exhibition highlights this invisible and often misunderstood disability, offering a new language based on Sign Language to raise awareness among spectators about the reality of deaf individuals.

Context :
The project "Spoken Portraits" began in June 2016 in Cairo, with a workshop and an exhibition of images of deaf individuals, organized through an invitation from the Swiss Embassy. This initiative saw great success during the exhibition at City Garden, on the wall of the Swiss Embassy's Office for International Cooperation, and at Medrar Art.

Artistic Approach :
Starting from the premise that the Deaf express themselves "through images" and "via images," photographer Denis Ponté undertook a portrait project of deaf individuals, capturing their unique signing in Sign Language. These portraits invite the hearing to question this different community, often forgotten or marginalized, and to connect with it. Each series of portraits is accompanied by an image of the Sign Language alphabet corresponding to the region or language represented, highlighting the richness and complexity of "deaf culture".

"Sensitive Solids", the sound installation by Pierre Dunand Filliol, and the poetic reading by Philippe Constantin, open doors to sensory experiences mirroring the world of deafness. These artistic creations enrich the "Spoken Portraits" exhibition, providing a total immersion into the world of both deaf and hearing individuals.

In October 2023, the "Spoken Portraits" exhibition will be presented in Sagunto (Valencia), accompanied by the sound installation "Sensitive Solids" and Philippe Constantin's poetic reading. This rare occasion will allow the public to discover these works in their entirety and to experience a unique artistic journey.

These events will offer a wide audience the opportunity to discover and appreciate Denis Ponté's work along with the artistic contributions of Pierre Dunand Filliol and Philippe Constantin that accompany it. Visitors will have the chance to explore different dimensions of the human experience, awakening their perception to the diversity of sensory communication modes.

The "Spoken Portraits" exhibition will continue to convey its message and stimulate reflection on the theme of deafness as a disability, while celebrating the richness and culture of deaf individuals.

Exhibition Journey :
The portrait series were created in various countries such as Germany (Lübeck), Switzerland (Geneva), Spain (Barcelona and Valencia), Greece (Athens), Ivory Coast (Abidjan), Burkina Faso (Ouagadougou, Bobo Dioulasso, and Mahadaga), Egypt (Cairo), and Morocco (Tangier). For each community, a photography workshop for deaf individuals was simultaneously organized, facilitating exchanges and active participation of those involved in this project.

Exhibition program at Bains des Pâquis :

opening on September 15, 2023, at 6 pm.

On September 15 and 20, at 6 pm: "Sensitive Solids", a sound installation by Pierre Dunand Filliol, musician, and Yannick Jakob, inventor, and craftsman.

On September 23, at 6 pm: Reading by Philippe Constantin, accompanied by Francesco Bartoletti on the cello, with interpretation in French Sign Language.

On September 24, at 10 am: Philo-Café with interpretation in French Sign Language on a theme related to deafness.

Conclusion :
The "Spoken Portraits" exhibition, realized by Denis Ponté in collaboration with Pierre Dunand Filliol, Philippe Constantin, and Francesco Bartoletti, showcases the beauty and diversity of deaf individuals through intimate and meaningful portraits. This project aims to raise awareness about the daily lives of deaf individuals and promote better understanding and inclusion of this often ostracized community. The exhibition also offers events and activities that allow visitors to immerse themselves deeper into the reality of deaf individuals, encouraging dialogue and exchange between the hearing and the Deaf.