Exhibition Response / 09

Mar 1

The Pelican Project discuss and respond to the film Mirrored To The Core from the exhibition James Paddock: Life Could be Done So Much Better at the Exeter Phoenix

A video still of two young adults - a woman and a man - in an indoor parking garage. They are both leaning against a bright blue pillar — James Paddock, *Mirrored to the Core*, video still, 2022-23

The Pelican Project is a group of young people with learning disabilities from across Devon. They are at the centre of a collective that includes community organisations, teachers, creators, students, our carers and families. The Pelican Project collaborates with partners from across the region and aim to help one another thrive, to make a positive impact on their communities and to make sure the learning disabled community belongs.

Life Could Be Done So Much Better was a solo exhibition by James Paddock at the Exeter Phoenix, 18 November 2023 - February 4 2024.

A high-contrast black and white portrait against a deep black background. The person is sat in a chair with their hands together on their lap, and they have long curly hair. — Lauren

A high-contrast black and white portrait against a deep black background. She is has long hair and is wearing plaid skirt, sat with her hands on her knee. — Izzy

Lauren, Izzy and Ben are members of the Pelican Project and participate in Exeter Phoenix’s youth arts group Freefall+. They visited James Paddock: Life Could Be Done So Much Better and recorded their conversation following a screening of Paddock’s film Mirrored to the Core as part of their Cultural Criticism series. The film was introduced by Gallery Curator Matt Burrows. The discussion also included Ben’s support worker Aiden; Freefall+ facilitators Charlie and George; and podcast host Shelley.

Click on the black bar below to listen to the conversation.

Access Transcript of Podcast

*NB: Ben uses an Augmented Alternative Communication (AAC) device to communicate. He communicates through a combination of facial expressions, head movements and his AAC, so the precise meanings have not been fully captured in the audio recording or transcript. Ben has made brilliant progress with his AAC but if a word is positioned next to or near his intended word, he can sometimes make errors by 'misfiring'. It can be difficult for Ben to correct himself before the conversation has moved forward or assumptions have been made about what he actually meant. It is probable that when Ben talks about 'fish' that this was an error, due to 'fish' being on the same vocabulary page on his AAC as 'diving' - a word Ben uses to refer to 'dying' or 'death', as he doesn't have access to these words on his AAC. What was clear to the facilitator was that he wanted to communicate about his dad's death and that the film had made him feel sad as it had reminded him of his dad, and that it was the music and dancing that had triggered this feeling.