The workshop, curated by Daniel Bongioanni, explores visual perception and invites reflection on the conscious use of the eyes, facial expressions, body, and hands. Starting from this reflection, participants will develop a greater awareness of hand usage in various contexts, from everyday life to sign language, from art to theater, thereby expanding the potential of visual communication.

The Visual Sign (VS) is an artistic component of sign language, which evolved from Visual Vernacular (VV) and visual poetry. Both VV and visual poetry are based on traditional elements of sign language, such as classifiers and personification. However, VS has "branched off" from these elements, offering greater understanding even to those who do not know sign language by using iconic and visual signs. While primarily based on hands and facial expressions, VS allows for the extension of expression to the entire body. Thanks to VS, it is possible to develop a greater awareness of the use of the body and non-verbal communication to express complex concepts without referring to a specific language, spoken or signed.

With an approach that combines theory and practice, the workshop offers in-depth insights into sign language and the Deaf community, explores the role of sign language in art, and presents a comparison between poetry and Visual Vernacular, opening new perspectives on visual and communicative expression.