International Deaf Artist comes to town

From: Deaf Arts - Oct 27, 2004

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

International Deaf Artist comes to town

AYLESBURY, 27TH OCTOBER 2004 – In a first for Aylesbury, Rubbena Aurangzeb-Tariq, an established Deaf artist who has exhibited in London, Washington, Montreal, Stockholm and Paris, is planning a major installation of modern abstract works at Queen's Park Centre, entitled Room Full of Memories.

Supported by a bursary from the Arts Council, Rubbena aims to fill a whole room with painted canvas of varying size pieced together like a jigsaw, depicting what at first glance appear to be blocks of undulating and vivid colour. Only close scrutiny betrays the layers of materials, textures and pigment emerging like long-forgotten memories.

Room Full of Memories explores themes of identity and memory, the womb-like space encouraging the viewer to reflect on the artist's experience of being a deaf female Asian arts practitioner within a contemporary British context. It is Rubbena's first major installation and presents an opportunity to break into the mainstream in a way that she has never quite managed before.

"The installation will represent the barriers I face every day," explains Rubbena. "It confuses people that although I am profoundly deaf, I can talk and lip-read. Yet I cannot always hear or join in conversations and often feel lost. Where do I belong? I am deaf, Asian and a woman living in a Western society surrounded by Eastern culture.

"Through creating a painted world that one can walk into, I aim to evoke that feeling of confusion and frustration."

Rubbena will be holding an activity workshop for all adults at the Centre on Sunday 28th November between 10am – 4pm. Inspired by her works, the workshop aims to encourage participants to explore their own personal experiences using the same image-making processes she employs.

Room Full of Memories, 20th November - 18th December 2004

Queen's Park Centre, Queen's Park, Aylesbury HP21 7RT. Open 10am – 9.30pm Mondays to Thursdays, 7 – 8pm Fridays, 10am – 1.30pm and 7 – 8pm Saturdays. Closed Sundays.

Editor's Note:

Based in Kew, Rubbena Aurangzeb-Tariq, 32, is currently studying for her second MA degree, this time in Art Psychotherapy at Goldsmiths College, University of London. Since 1992 she has participated in group exhibitions including the recent Deaf Arts Now international festival in Stockholm, Yatra – a Journey, a regional touring exhibition, and Deafway II in Washington, and solo shows in London, Paris, Montreal and Surrey.

She has led workshops at the Whitechapel Gallery, Bryam Shaw School of Art & Design and the Serpentine Gallery in London and given presentations on the theme of Deaf Art in Brighton and Bournemouth.

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For further information, please contact Melissa Mostyn, Deaf Arts and Marketing Co-ordinator, on melissa@melissamostyn.com.