DDFI40 Rage Online Exhibitions

Rage is something many disabled artists and individuals within our community feel. There is a sense of exhaustion and hopelessness that we often encounter in conversations.  There's a feeling of deep rage that, what felt progressive and forward focused in terms of rights, access and attitude decades ago, is being eroded and we are being pitted against each other again.

The following exhibitions were created, curated or displayed in response to the theme of 'Rage' for DaDaFest International 40 in March 2025. You can still enjoy them online via the links below.

 

Rage, Riot and Revolution  

For over four decades, disabled women in Liverpool and the North West have been powerful agents of change locally, nationally and internationally, reshaping their communities and the way society views disabled people. This exhibition celebrates the achievements of female activists, artists, leaders and champions of disability activism, highlighting their essential contributions to both local and global progress. 

Launching on International Women’s Day, this exhibition celebrates their resilience, ingenuity, and impact. Through photography captured by Jan Williams, we illuminate their stories as activists fighting for equal rights, as artists reshaping cultural narratives, and as leaders in our communities. Included in this exhibition are portraits of: Ruth Fabby, Kaite O’Reiley, Cheryl Martin, Liz Carr, Amina Atiq & Pam Thomas. 

“It is the systems that continue to disempower and disable us, not us.”  

(Zoe Partington DaDa, CEO) 

Click here to access this exhibition online.

 

Pimp My Wheelchair 

Commissioned to create new work for DDFI40, responding to the theme of ‘Rage’, artists Faith Bebbington and Dr Janet Price launch ‘Pimp my Wheelchair’. Faith and Janet are ‘pimping up’ our prosthetics, dressing up crutches, wheelchairs, hearing aids (and more) with sculptures inspired by plants that use defence mechanisms to express rage against attack. From the thorn that pricks, to plants with leaves that close against touch, the new sculptures celebrate their challenge to ableism in the world. 

Click here to access an exhibition of these sculptures online. 

 

Painting in Light   

Artist Zoe Partington’s light sculptures feature slogans which have relevance to disability activism and issues disabled people experience, and they will be displayed across the city during DDFI40. The work conveys stories, messages and insights into disabled people’s struggles in a world where society still excludes us from the mainstream.

Click here for an online exhibition of these sculptures.

 

It's Not You, It's M.E

 

Imagining Better Futures of Care For and With People with Energy Limiting Conditions – Artist Showcase Online

This exhibition showcases creative work produced as part of a research project led by University of Liverpool and Liverpool Hope University using online creative workshops to explore better futures of care for people with Energy Limiting Conditions. The works capture the rage and exhaustion people experience due to the inadequate care many receive and people’s hopes for better future care. The work includes zines, animations, creative non-fiction, a fairytale inspired short story, a podcast/audio collage, and a comic book.

Funders: The project was funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) as part of their programme of public engagement to mark the 75th anniversary of the NHS: AH/X012263/1. Project partners: Healing Justice London and Chronic Illness Inclusion. This collaboration with DaDa is funded by an AHRC Impact Accelerator Award, via The University of Liverpool IAA fund.

Find out more about the project by clicking here.

Find out more about the artists and their work here.

 

Koishii by Chris Shapiro

Koishii is Japanese for “I miss” referring to a person/ place/thing that it’s impossible (at least currently) to reunite with. The word itself has an almost dramatic and slightly older tone, but is also used with tongue-in-cheek self-awareness, an equivalent to the word “yearn”. The experience, created by DaDa Fellow Chris Shapiro, allows you to move a character to get a key, which lets you unlock a portal to the next day in your life. You have to navigate pools of lava, poison gas that slows you down, and your controls will change at random to make movement more uncomfortable. All the while, playing in the background, is Chris narrating their experience of chronic illness.

Click here to access Koishii online.

 

DaDa @ 40: Dive into our Archive 

We are thrilled to be working in partnership with disabled curator Gill Crawshaw and the Young Everyman Playhouse (YEP) Producers group to develop and share this pilot exhibition. 

Over 40 years, DaDa has amassed a huge archive of material and memorabilia. Working with the YEP Producers, Gill will be sharing her experience and expertise in curating as a disabled person. The YEP group will be delving into our archive to share a snapshot of DaDa’s history from their own perspective. We’re keen to find out which images speak to them and to start a dialogue exploring how we continue to support, champion and develop disability arts with future generations.