“People often ask me what language I think in internally, and I want to bring it to life and show it to everyone.” – Jaycob Campbell aka Gonketa
Jaycob Campbell is a Deaf street artist, born and raised in Melbourne, now living and working in Geelong. Working under the pseudonym, ‘Gonketa,’ Jaycob uses bold, bright colours and linework as a reflection of his influences which have come from a range of contemporary styles such as graphic novels, sci-fi and street art. Born profoundly Deaf, Jaycob’s first language is Auslan (Australian Sign Language), and as such the work he produces is continuously exploring the complexity of hands; including their shape, form, and use for communication through sign languages and commonly used hand gestures which transcend spoken word.
A student asked me this question yesterday: “What can you hear? Like I can hear English inside my head.” I responded: “I can’t hear; all I can see are visual communications. I imagine how we communicate through body expressions, whether it’s with hands or without them. It’s all visual. Even now, I can see it.” – Jaycob Campbell aka Gonketa
Benalla Art Gallery partnered with Just Another Agency to showcase a large-scale exhibition of Jaycob’s work at the end of their 2023 programming, on display from December 16 – January 21. The exhibition was a conceptual exploration of Deaf community and Deaf culture, approached in new and immersive forms so as to reach a broader audience of all abilities and backgrounds. Within this exhibition was thematic studies of Deafness as a whole, each piece curated to form a cohesive and encompassing journey for the viewer to better comprehend the intricacies of the Deaf experience.
The work displayed the diversity of Deaf culture and creativity, using Jaycob’s influences from street art and graffiti to highlight the representation and determination of Deaf communities across any artform. ‘Moving Forward’ also created opportunities for collaboration on digital media works with fellow Deaf artist Ravi Vasavan, with a focus on connection and capacity building through expanding and encouraging multidisciplinary networks. For the Deaf community, this partnership aimed to promote exchange and exploration. The goal for the artists’ was that they might share inspiration with each other and discover ongoing work with organisations such as Just Another.
With the support of Benalla Art Gallery, the exhibition aimed to present Deaf art and culture to a broader audience and facilitate sustainable bonds between metropolitan and regional centres in order to build further opportunities for funding and community support. As a regional artist, these partnerships are also vital for Jaycob’s career development, in building his profile across the state, and forming a platform to elevate Deaf voices.
