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Deaf for 4’33’’ – Interview with artist Chisato Minamimura

Deaf for 4’33’’ – Interview with artist Chisato Minamimura

7th December 2022

On 2 July, we joined 29 museums and galleries across the UK to host We Are Invisible We Are Visible (WAIWAV), presented by DASH, the Disabled-led visual arts organisation.

31 Disabled artists disrupted 30 museums and galleries across the country with surreal interventions in recognition of the 102nd anniversary of the first Dada International Exhibition (where artists reacted to the horrors of the First World War using satire and nonsense in their art). The project, which won the 2021 Ampersand Prize, is the most ambitious showcase of work by d/Deaf, Disabled and Neurodivergent artists to be presented in the UK.

Firstsite collaborated with Deaf artist Chisato Minamimura who performed “Deaf for 4’33” – a performance inspired by 4’33 by composer John Cage.

You can watch highlights from Chisato’s performance by clicking on the video below.

We caught up with Chisato to find out more about Deaf for 4’33” and her artistic practice in general...

How would you describe your performance?

Deaf for 4’33” is an installation work where I perform live for 4 minutes and 33 seconds, every hour on the hour. Taking inspiration from John Cage’s score 4’33”, this is my performative response from my Deaf perspective, where over the course of the day I slowly destroy an (old and out of tune!) piano to explore its sound, vibrations and biology. It was originally shown at Firstsite Gallery in Colchester, as part of We Are Invisible, We Are Visible (WAIWAV) in July 2022.

What does your artwork represent?

My artworks are interested in the visualisation of sound and music from my Deaf perspective and using digital technology to share my experiences of sensory perception and human encounters. For Deaf for 4′ 33”, I am exploring the sound and shape of a piano, through vision and touch.

Why do you use performance in your work?

For me, performance acts as a 3-dimensional artwork which has the potential to innovate the merging of digital technology with sensory experiences. It offers an additional layer of engagement which has the power to make performance more accessible.

What do you hope people will take away from Deaf for 4’33”?

I hope that Deaf for 4′ 33” will challenge people’s ideas around ‘usefulness’ and what a piano can be, look like or sound like. I’m interested in inviting people to connect with and be present in their senses. I hope they are interested in this new Deaf perspective on John Cage’s original score.

Photo credits: Frankie Shaftain-Fenner

Deaf for 4’33” is available for installation and touring to galleries and museum spaces. Please contact Chisato’s producer Michael Kitchin on [email protected] for more information.

Find out more below:

Chistao Miniamimura's website

Waiwav's website