My Life, Shape Open 2016, Yinka Shonibare's Guest Projects, Hackney, London

Large format glossy c-type print exhibited unmounted (152 x 111 cms). Image also used by Shape Arts for the cover of the exhibition catalogue.

The image of the spotlight was taken to document the site specific work an invitation to speak (created for the exhibition ‘In On The Act’ at Shoreditch Town Hall, London), and re-used in a personal context for the 2016 Shape Open. The image invokes the many invitations to speak I have turned down because of my selective mutism. I wanted to raise awareness of the lack of understanding and lack of basic accommodations for those with communication differences, particularly in the art system.

In On The Act, Shoreditch Town Hall, 1997, was curated by artists Kay Walsh and Julia Spicer, with Pat Finn, JA Hidalgo, Niki Kyriakidou, Mark Osterfield, Jo Wood, Sonja Zelic.

Site specific installation - spotlight, 78rpm record player, 78rpm record - 'Illusionen', sung in German by Lys Assia

On the stage, in the Baroque surroundings of the ballroom, a record player is placed almost centre stage, a 78rpm record plays repeatedly ― a woman sings longingly of illusions. To the left of this in what would have been the wings, where prompts would be whispered to the actors on stage, a single speaker is connected to the record player. A spotlight attached to the balcony opposite illuminates a circle of light on the faded mustard velvet curtains.

The 'decaying grandeur' and rather baroque look to the interior of this building seemed like a facade, a masquerade, an 'act' in itself. Innovative socialist ideas and actions had developed under its roof ― Oswald Mosely was refused a platform to speak here...