Healthlink Worldwide

Advocacy activity: Seeing in the Dark Exhibition, Bangladesh - Dec 2003

The successful Seeing in the Dark exhibition took place at the Dhrupad gallery, Dhaka, Bangladesh. More than just an art installation, the exhibition simulated the lives of disabled people and raised awareness of disability issues in Bangladesh.

Running for six days in December 2003 the exhibition was a joint collaboration between SARPV Bangladesh, and Healthlink Worldwide (UK) as part of the Communicating for Advocacy project.

Communication works!
A working group of 25 people with visual impairments and five people with physical disabilities took part in discussions to plan the exhibition. Talking about their lives in Dhaka, they explored ways of communicating their experiences to non-disabled people.

Together with UK artist Simon Allen, the group transformed the Dhrupad gallery over four days, plunging the venue into absolute darkness. Dhaka life was then recreated through sound and touch, including rickshaws, gardens, roadsides and shops.

Visitors were invited to move around the specially designed spaces, as guides led the way. Other members of the group acted as rickshaw drivers, lottery ticket sales assistants and store-owners. The effect was to present visitors with a unique view of the city.

Small splash – big ripples
In just six days over 250 people visited the exhibition generating press interest across Bangladesh. Among the mainly non-disabled visitors a new level of awareness was created. One visitor felt the experience had opened up the world of his visually impaired father. He was moved to comment on the importance of non-disabled people taking time to learn “what to do and what not to do”.

At a broader level many local and international NGOs and disability-training groups attended the exhibition. Their presence highlighted the need for an advocacy agenda that places local people at the centre of change.

Towards a bright future
One of the most encouraging outcomes of the exhibition was the collaboration between the project participants and visitors. With the stigma often surrounding disabled people in Bangladesh it was a great achievement to see the cooperation between people with and without disabilities. As one visitor put it: “before I entered the dark, I was the one with eyes, and my guide had no sight. But in the dark, he was the one with sight”.

The success of this 'mini-activity' within CFA was overwhelming in the region and led to a further three other exhibitions taking place in Bangladesh and India. Each time the process was highly participatory and involved visually impaired people with the design and implementation of the project.