PLAYLISTS

The Deaf community lives in a world that often overlooks its natural way of communicating: sign language. While many Deaf people rely on lip-reading, most hearing individuals don’t understand sign languages, resulting in isolation and invisibility. For many, the rare appearance of a sign-language interpreter on television is the only acknowledgment of Deaf existence.

DEAF.city uses visual-gestural humor to challenge hearing indifference, to celebrate Deaf culture and connect communities. Participants share stories and jokes, turning everyday misunderstandings into moments of laughter and reflection. Humor becomes a bridge between Deaf and hearing audiences, empowering storytellers to reclaim visibility and promote inclusion.

The project spreads across an open-access video repository with multi-screen installations in museums, art centers and public spaces, using TVs, LED panels, or projections. The videos—paired with participant-generated sounds such as vocalizations, claps, and finger snaps—create a rich, engaging soundscape.

Since its launch in Valencia in 2020, DEAF.city has expanded to Mexico City in 2021, and in 2023 to Bilbao and São Paulo. Twenty-six participants have shared humorous monologues in Spanish, Mexican, and Brazilian Sign Languages. In 2026, the project will grow to Marseille, Rome, Athens, Istanbul, Tunis, Algiers, and Barcelona, incorporating French, Italian, Greek, Turkish, Tunisian, Algerian, and Catalan sign languages.

By blending humor, art, and activism, DEAF.city makes Deaf culture visible, fosters understanding, and builds bridges between Deaf and hearing communities worldwide.

2023 São Paulo *LIBRAS Língua Brasileira de Sinais _SUPPORTED BY ECA-USP Escola de Comunicações e Artes/Universidade de São Paulo _PARTICIPANTS Ana Laura Rocha Vendrame, Edvaldo Carmo dos Santos, Fabio de Sa e Silva, Fernanda Oliveira Santos, Idenilson Batista Souza, Vitória Lopes Porto Justa _INTERPRETER Karina Regina da Silva Oliveira _COORDENAÇÃO Isart Santos _THANKS TO Martin Grossmann, Rubens Rewald, Sandro Costa, Marcelo Godoy, Paulo Hartmann, André Fratti Costa.

2023 Bilbao *LSE Lengua de Signos Española _SUPPORTED BY Museo de Bellas Artes de Bilbao _PARTICIPANTS Amaia Mejía, Aitor Bedialauneta, Eduardo Amorós, Iñaki Montero _INTERPRETER Janire Martín _COLLABORATION Euskal Gorrak, BilboArte Fundazioa _THANKS TO Javier Riaño, Miriam Isasi, Aitor Arakistain, Txuspo Poyo.

2021 Mexico City *LSM Lengua de Señas Mexicana _SUPPORTED BY Unidades Lerma y Cuajimalpa de la Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana _PARTICIPANTS Gustavo Méndez, Indira López Cardona, Ixchel Solís García, Luis Alberto Valencia Beltrán, Luis Eduardo Méndez, Martha Cristina de Díaz, Mauricio Iván Álvarez García, Miguel Díaz, Verónica Álvarez _INTERPRETERS Ixchel Solís García, Daniela Vite _THANKS TO Octavio Mercado, Mónica Benítez, Hugo Solís, Angélica Martínez de la Peña, Andrea Barojas, Carolina Belén González, Gabriela Villa, Isabel García Hidalgo, César Martínez, Luis Eudardo Vaquera.

2020 Valencia *LSE Lengua de Signos Española _SUPPORTED BY Centre del Carme Cultura Contemporània _COLLABORATION Federació De Persones Sordes CV, Las Naves _PARTICIPANTS Aurora López, David Riutort, Daniel Bautista, Josep Antoni Gimeno, Mónica Díez, Pepa Burgal, Sonia Piqueras _INTERPRETER Carmen Tos _THANKS TO Matteo Sisti Sette, Roc Parés, Daniel Julià, Maribel Domènech, Salomé Cuesta, Justina Pérez Cantos.

DEAF.city is a project by Antoni Abad   Contact