An Archaeology of Disability
The periodic exhibition "An Archaeology of Disability" consists of the eponymous art installation created by architectural historian David Gissen, art historian Jennifer Stager, and archaeologist- architect historian Mantha Zarmakoupi. It was first presented to the public in 2021 at the Venice Architecture Biennale.
Through an experimental reconstruction of the Acropolis in Athens, the exhibition seeks to approach an iconic and multi-layered monument of the ancient past through the lens of human disability. The way we perceive and reconstruct the Acropolis encompasses modern ideas about the body and physical impairment. The exhibition invites the visitor to see the experience of accessing this challenging architectural space beyond the segregations imposed by contemporary perceptions of disability. By creating a sensory perception of the Propylaea area, the work highlights the ascent to the Acropolis as a collective experience in which all members of Athenian society participated, regardless of physical ability, often helping each other. To achieve this, the creators use various means of communication accessible to people with disabilities, such as tactile representations, audio narratives in Greek and English, and narratives in Greek and American Sign Language.
The title "An Archaeology of Disability" essentially refers to an alternative approach to the accessibility of cultural heritage, balancing historical authenticity with technical modifications for modern accessibility. This approach not only makes ancient artifacts and monuments accessible to modern people with disabilities but also ensures that the reconstruction of the past is carried out using languages, forms, and means related to disability and its experience. Through these reconstructions, disability emerges as an object of historical and archaeological research, an expression of human difference and diversity, rather than as a condition justifying social segregation or isolation.
In a separate section, actions of the Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki aimed at the inclusion of people with disabilities are highlighted.
As part of the exhibition, guided tours with simultaneous interpretation in Greek Sign Language will be conducted on scheduled dates and by appointment.
An educational activity titled "Theater for All" constitutes the theatrical workshop of the exhibition, targeting children of all ages, with or without disabilities. For more information about the theatrical workshop, you can visit the following link https://www.amth.gr/news/theatriko-ergastiri-gia-paidia
The dates of the guided tours and the workshop will be announced every month on our website. After the announcement, you can sign up by calling at +30 2313 310 201 (Monday-Friday, 08:00 to 14:00).
The exhibition is realized with the support of the Williams Publication Fund of University of Pennsylvania, and the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Agora Institute of Johns Hopkins University.
