Earshot by Kate Disher-Quill

Melbourne photographer, Kate Disher-Quill’s Earshot (published by Black Inc.) is a poignant collection of photographs and personal stories offering a rare, visceral insight into the world of deafness and hearing loss. It presents intimate personal portrayals using photography and storytelling, delving into the world of deafness, bringing to light a myriad of experiences and issues surrounding the complexities of hearing loss – everything from the daily reality of hearing aids, cochlear implants, lip reading and Auslan, to personal stories of overcoming adversity and celebrating differences.

Cover of Earshot.
Cover of Earshot.

Disher-Quill was herself diagnosed with hearing loss at age three, and fitted with hearing aids when she was 10. Disher-Quill spent her childhood, adolescence, and early adulthood feeling ashamed and in denial of her deafness. She concealed it for over 16 years, which included hiding the many pairs of hearing aids she was fitted with. A simple, yet pivotal experience of reading an article about another young deaf photographer led her down a path of self-acceptance and ultimately left her questioning: How could the power of photography and visual storytelling change our perception of deafness and hearing loss?

© Kate Disher-Quill
© Kate Disher-Quill

In Australia, around 3.6 million people are affected by hearing loss, including 80-90% of people in Indigenous communities.

About the author

 

Kate Disher-Quill
Kate Disher-Quill

Kate Disher-Quill is an award-winning artist working across photography, film, and multimedia. As a visual communicator, she is drawn to weaving stories into art to explore themes reflected in her community and the wider Australian society. Central to her artistic practice is the desire to create new and empowering works that inspire connections and understanding between the subject and audience. She is a professional photographer who exhibits frequently, with her works extending beyond the gallery and often encountered in public space.

www.blackincbooks.com.au/books/earshot

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