EMMA GRIFFITHS
AKA EMMA CAN SEE MONSTERS
I LIGHT U 2025
I LIGHT UTRECHT, January 10th - February 2nd 2025
LOCATION: Jaarbeursplein, between Utrecht Central Station and CS Jaarbeursplein Bus stop
Photograph courtesy of André Russcher, taken during I LIGHT U 2025 festival, Utrecht
How do you experience a conversation when you are deaf? Emma's artwork offers a unique perspective on this every day experience in a layered, three-dimensional form. With the artwork being situated between the bus station and Utrecht's rail network passersby are encouraged to look at the work from different angles, making the viewer play as Emma's brain processing what was said to her. The work visualizes how her brain analyzes countless possibilities during every conversation to understand what is being said.
Photograph courtesy of André Russcher, taken during I LIGHT U 2025 festival, Utrecht
Photograph courtesy of André Russcher, taken during I LIGHT U 2025 festival, Utrecht
Photograph courtesy of André Russcher, taken during I LIGHT U 2025 festival, Utrecht
The 2025 theme, Alive , calls the artists to reflect on what it means to be alive. For Emma, who has a unique sensory experience due to her hearing loss, Alive is about more than just existing – it’s about how she experiences her reality and makes sense of her daily interactions.
“Life is unique for everyone, and for me, as a deaf person, that is shaped by a special relationship with language and sound. My hearing loss has presented challenges, but it has also given me a unique position and perspective. I experience the world in my own way, somewhere between the hearing and deaf worlds.”
I AM ECSTATIC RIGHT NOW shares her experience with an everyday act like a conversation. You have to actively process the words, consider the possibilities and try to make sense of what was said. This is exactly what her brain does every day during every conversation.
“All possible interpretations of what I hear are 'real'. It is an essential part of how I experience life.”
The theme of Alive resonates deeply in Emma’s work. It shows how she embraces her daily reality and validates herself through her unique way of living and perceiving. Her artwork brings this to life by not only sharing her experience but also inviting the audience to witness her process.
“This is how I experience life. This is how I live.”
With many thanks to the I LIGHT U team, Emma's light artwork continues to immerse others into her world as well as educating others on what hearing a verbal conversation can be like for a deaf/hard of hearing person.
To find out more about Emma's work please see the I LIGHT U 2025 Programme linked below:
