Assistive or Artistic Technologies? Exploring the Connections between Art, Disability and Wheelchair Use

Abstract

Art has deep connections with both disability and HCI research. From disabled bodies becoming avatars of novel forms of expression, to artistic work being created as an act of resistance, art has been a powerful tool to subvert ableist narratives. Artistic practices have also helped to inspire, innovate and push the boundaries of HCI, giving rise to new technologies and interaction possibilities. Our paper presents the exploration of the experiences and practices of 17 artists who used wheelchairs for mobility. Through the thematic analysis of interviews, we conceptualize three themes: (1) Personal journeys through art and disability; (2) Social encounters through art, (3) Skills and technology in art making. From these themes, we reflect on how art can help HCI researchers to capture the complexity of the experiences of disability and assistive technology use and how collaboration with disabled artists could help to rethink the design of disruptive artistic technologies.