Alison Bigg & Auricals

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Alison Bigg "Ambient Voice," 2023

photo etching, pronto litho, collograph, stencil, limited edition of 10, 8.5 x 22 in. Courtesy of the Gallery.

Opening Reception: June 9 @ 7:00

Bigg believes that our society has a type of communal deafness cause by information overload. With Auricals, she invites us to navigate the important difference between hearing and listening. Hearing is the physical act of receiving information, whereas listening is a learned skill. Empathetic or critical listening allows us to process what we hear in order to better understand and intuit key messages.

What does it feel like to go deaf?

​For many, hearing loss is a gradual and perplexing experience. You may wonder why people are mumbling and leaving you out of their conversations. Or find the chatter inside a crowded room reverberates like an echo chamber. Why are you startled by loud noises, yet turning up the volume on all your devices? 

Alison Bigg first noticed hearing loss in 2017 while listening to music. “My favourite tunes sounded different,” she says, “far away and muffled, not as enjoyable.” At that time, Bigg worked 12-hour shifts as a chef. She thought it might be temporary deafness caused by the loud exhaust fans. But months after leaving that employment, her hearing loss continued. Bigg took a hearing test and was referred to a specialist. The diagnosis was otosclerosis, a type of arthritis or hardening of the bones in her inner ear. Otosclerosis is a non-reversible condition, resulting in deafness. After unsuccessful surgery, Bigg became totally deaf in the left ear. She now has partial hearing in her right ear and uses a hearing aid. Her new skills include lip-reading and sign language.

Artist Talk is June 11 @ 3:00