Produced with a cutting wit and humour, the works presented within the exhibition often border on absurdity in their attempt to pay homage to their heroes. In their Leigh Bowery video tribute, for example, the Disabled Avant-Garde (Araniello & Williamson) dress up in the monstrously glam style of Bowery and spend an evening at home staying up really late watching videos of their hero whilst sipping Cava and smoking fags. In their tribute to Tom & Jerry they take on the roles of the warring cat and mouse. They enact a hilarious chase through a house complete with cartoon furniture whilst attacking each other with pots and pans. This no-holds-barred romp contrasts notably with the often kid-gloved treatment of disabled people in real life.

The Disabled Avant-Garde Today! is a unique collaboration by two artists at the forefront of disability art, and puts down a marker for the future of disability art as it moves further into the limelight of mainstream recognition...

Katherine Araniello graduated from Goldsmiths College in 2004. She has presented work at the National Film Theatre, Lux and Serpentine Gallery (with 15mm Film). Aaron Williamson has presented his work extensively over recent years at many venues including the South London Gallery, Victoria & Albert Museum, and the Hayward Gallery. Araniello and Williamson are part of the 15mm Film collective working in the fields of visual, performance and video art, which looks to further the artistic expression of disabled people and to challenge perceptions of disability.

The Disabled Avant-Garde includes a discussion with Gavin Butt about the works in the exhibition and issues surrounding it. In particular the discussion examines the idea of pathos in art, and practices in which an audience is coaxed into an awkward or unsure response.

Click to see paintings from the show

Click to visut our Youtube site

home