An Archaeology of Disability in 2024

A gallery space with brick walls and concrete floor. There are rectangular stone stools, some with one corner sliced off at the top, placed about the room. On the wall to the right there are two square photographs of the Acropolis. To the left is an easel with a TV placed on it. On the screen is the word "Sēmata". — Sēmata Biennale Installation

In February of 2022, the Center for Hellenic Studies hosted a roundtable discussion of the research station “An Archaeology of Disability,” curated by David Gissen, Jennifer Stager, and Mantha Zarmakoupi for the Venice Biennale Architettura 2021 and opening on January 21, 2022 at La Gipsoteca di Arte Antica, Pisa.

Since the roundtable, the project has gone on to publish an essay in Classical Antiquity 43.2: proudly featuring the project with a multi-authored essay in this context.

A review of the the exhibition has appeared in Smith, B., (2024) “Lessons from the Ancient Greeks: Reimagining Disability”, Architectural Histories 12(1). doi: https://doi.org/10.16995/ah.11026, in addition to a forthcoming review by Iason Stathasos.

Seats have also been donated to the American School of Classical Studies in Athens, where they will be on permanent display (and in use) in the Kotsen courtyard.

List of further publications and developments

“An Archaeology of Disability: Athens, Venice, Pisa” in Anna Anguissola and Chiara Tarantino Peds. Aree archeologiche e acccessibilità. Riflessioni ed esperienze (2023)

“Producing the short film “Sēmata (Signs)” for the curated exhibition, “An Archaeology of Disability” with Christopher Tester, Pia Hargrove, and Caroline Cerilli”

Peopling the Past (blog, 2021)

“An Archaeology of Disability” in How Will We Live Together? edited by Hakim Sarkis (2021), 54-55.