Historically, prevailing opinion held that disability has less worth than “normality”. This judgement led to discrimination and marginalization of disabled people worldwide. Today, interaction with deaf, blind, or otherwise handicapped people is still dominated by pity and is focused mainly on the deficits of being disabled. There’s little understanding of the potential that can arise out of a handicap.

Seeking a more thoughtful approach—and boosting the employability of the disadvantaged—Andreas Heinecke followed Martin Buber’s assertion that “The only way of learning is by encounters” (I and Thou, Practicing Living Dialogue). In addressing the phenomenon of disabilities and their social consequences, this means that solutions must be found for disabled and “abled” people to interact in a forum that facilitates open exchange in order to reduce prejudices, clichés, and simple avoidance. What was needed was dialogue.

Following the life-changing success of Dialogue in the Dark (www.dialogue-in-the-dark.com) – an installation where blind guides lead sighted visitors through totally dark spaces – Dialogue in Silence was first shown in Frankfurt in 1997 as “Schattensprache”. In 2003 the exhibition was presented in the Cité des Sciences et l’Industrie in Paris through the collaboration of Andreas Heinecke and Orna Cohen with theatre director Thierry Roisin (www.theatredunord.fr) and deaf actor Bachir Saifi. Since then the exhibition has continued to develop with input from experts at museums and deaf cultural centres.

The Founders

Andreas Heinecke

Dialogue in Silence was conceived by Dr. Andreas Heinecke, creator of Dialogue in the Dark (www.dialogue-in-the-dark.com). The profound impact of that first “Dialogue” exhibition prompted Andreas to modify the concept to address the reality experienced by deaf people. Andreas owns several social enterprises in Germany and abroad and has won numerous awards, including being the first social entrepreneur in Western Europe to be named an Ashoka Fellow (www.ashoka.org).

Orna Cohen

Orna Cohen, co-author of Dialogue in Silence, has designed and curated many well-known exhibitions. She focuses on creating interactive exhibitions that immerse visitors in an experience to enhance their understanding of themselves and the world around them. In 2004, Orna received the prized “Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres” award from the French government. (www.orna-co.com)