A Sense of Colour

Colour is more than just something we see – it’s something we feel and sometimes even smell. It has the power to symbolise who we are and what we believe.

This exhibition presents artworks created by young people from the Deaf Academy and the 100 Club Youth Centre, in collaboration with Deaf artist Vicky Barber-Crimes and artist Octavia Madden. Inspired by objects linked to the theme of ‘colour’ in RAMM’s collections, young people embarked on a series of creative workshops with artists Vicky and Octavia to co-curate a display in the Cafe at RAMM.

Artworks made by students from the Deaf Academy feature vibrant colours and dynamic splatter movements that convey energy and emotion. Butterfly collages inspired by RAMM’s butterfly collection and 200 small hand shapes appear across ten large-scale paintings to commemorate the Deaf Academy’s 200th anniversary. Hands hold deep significance in Deaf culture as tools for communication, creativity, and connection, complementing the butterfly symbolism of change, growth, and freedom.

Young people from the 100 Club chose to represent their artwork in a colour spectrum on 5 large shapes, each representing an aspect of the museum’s collection. Each panel showcases their diverse individual artistic responses to objects at RAMM through painting and various printmaking techniques including gel plate, lino cut, tetra pak and collagraph printing.

Watch a short video from Deaf Academy students: https://youtu.be/WBBPWXkkYA8?si=ARVFLQ60VlAxbA4S

With thanks to partners at the Deaf Academy, 100 Club Youth Centre and Exeter City Council Housing and Development Services.

A Sense of Colour is funded by Arts Council England.

Information about accessibility is available on our Access page.