THE RIGHT TO SILENCE
Elizabeth Orr

The Right To Silence
Curated and presented by Lawrence Abu Hamdan

With contributions by Noah Angell, Ali Kaviani (Silent University), Anna Kipervaser, Maha Mamoun and Haytham Al Wardany, Kobe Matthys (Agence), Niall Moore, James Parker and Tom Rice.

SUMMARY
A daylong exploration of how voices are both heard and silenced. During the course of the day listening itself will be interpreted in its many forms and affects, allowing us to understand the frontiers of the voice and the tireless battle to govern and contain it.

INTRODUCTION
The Right to remain Silent is a speech act that initiates a special mode of listening in which anything you say may be taken down in evidence against you. When uttered by an officer of the law it serves as a warning that your voice has been placed into custody and that you have crossed the threshold between normal conversation and liable speech.

This event at de Brakke Grond is a daylong exploration of not only the voice but also the forms of listening that govern the way voices are both heard and silenced. The day consists of a series of presentations, performances and listenings by artists, filmmakers, anthropologists, activists and academics that deal with the multiple ways in which our voices resound through the disciplines of medicine, politics, law, ethnography and theology.

LAWRENCE ABU HAMDAN
London-based artist Lawrence Abu Hamdan is a part of the research team Forensic Architecture at Goldsmiths College, where he is also a PhD candidate and lecturer. His recent solo shows include The Freedom Of Speech Itself (2012) at Showroom, London, The Whole Truth (2012) at Casco, Utrecht and most recently Tape Echo (2013) at Beirut in Cairo. His works have been part of exhibitions at the Tate Modern, MHKA Antwerp, the Van Abbemuseum, Eindhoven (2014), Lisa Cooley New York and HKW Berlin (2014) among others.