Power of the unspoken word

"Artistic creation is a journey of experience, and a bridge connecting individuals. I think performing sign language poetry in public is an effective way of promoting inclusivity. It reflects the need for mutual respect, understanding and support to enhance social integration."

Feng says that the decision to collaborate with Body On&On was spurred by shared ideals to promote inclusivity, diversity and equality. Raising public awareness of people with disabilities through sign language and art performances has been high on the organization's recent agenda.

"What joy it is that we can use our own language, sign language, to express ourselves in poetry. On behalf of Sign Alley, I sincerely hope to work long term with Body On&On to create a wonderful future together," he adds.

The poetry workshop, hosted on Jan 13 at Beijing's 798 Art Zone, was one of three organized by Beijing Body On&On, alongside a dance workshop for people with learning disabilities on Jan 7, and a sensory integration workshop for people with vision loss on Jan 14.

The workshops were hosted as a continuation of 2023's Fifth Luminous Festival. This edition of the annual festival centered on inclusive arts was themed "to see the other", and was focused on getting to know and care about others in an open-minded and inclusive manner.

"We have organized many different kinds of inclusive workshops, mostly drama and dance. So we are trying to explore new ways of communication and expression for groups we haven't reached," says Ge Huichao, founder of Body On&On and the Luminous Festival.

Among the groups they have started to work with are people with learning disabilities. Ge says that to do so, they have been developing experience by collaborating with international art troupes of performers with learning disabilities.

"We hope to work with people with learning disabilities in the long term, and provide them with good art resources. Also, because our workshops have primarily focused on the performing arts, we are trying out poetry and sensory integration, but for all these inclusive workshops, I think our goals are one and the same."

As its next step, the organization aims to produce art projects and works jointly created by people of different identities. Instead of stressing particular identities or social groups, they would like to simply focus on people, Ge says.

Contact the writer at chengyuezhu@chinadaily.com.cn