Meet Olivia.
Hi, my name is Olivia. I am from the UK and I am 23 years old. I am profoundly Deaf with a cochlear implant on my right side. I frequently use spoken English and British Sign Language (BSL) throughout my life to communicate with Deaf/hard of hearing and hearing people.
I am an abstract painter from Devon, UK. Growing up as a profoundly Deaf person in a hearing family, being creative was the only way I could communicate and express myself. I couldn’t hear anything or speak before I had my cochlear implant and I experienced the world through colours and vibrations. I create paintings using my hands with acrylic paint to express my experiences and emotions as a Deaf person in a hearing world.
I use acrylic paint to create vibrant and emotive depictions of different sounds through my paintings. I apply paint to the canvas using my hands, as I feel I can connect with my art and express myself better when I handle the paint in a more tactile way. A paintbrush is a barrier between me as an artist and my materials. Much like how Deaf people were forbidden to use their hands to communicate in sign language, I do not want to feel my hands are forbidden from communicating my truth through my art.
In 2001, I was born the doctors told my parents that they thought I may have a genetic syndrome (waardenburg syndrome) as i was born with a lot of grey hair but it wasn’t confirmed until I was about 1 year old and then I had a lot of hearing tests and eventually at 18 months old my parents were told that I was profoundly Deaf. Sometime later cochlear implants were mentioned to my parents who had to make a very difficult decision.. They decided as coming from a hearing family and life is hard enough, they wanted me to have an opportunity to learn how to speak knowing when I became a teenager where I could choose what I want to do with my life. Personally, I am so thankful they have made this decision as the cochlear implant has changed my life by making me more confident as I am growing up as an adult in the Deaf and Hearing world. Even though I do love it when I am not wearing my cochlear implant for that peaceful moment when it is needed (well most of the time!)
I have had a cochlear implant for 21 years now, it has given me so much confidence which I am grateful for as I wasn’t that confident when I was young especially I felt embarrassed about wearing my cochlear implant as I thought I looked weird and different. Now I really appreciate it because I am an adult now where I have realized that cochlear implants are awesome! I honestly don’t care about what others think or say about it. It has given me a lot of power which is why I am way more confident wearing it now. This has given me a lot of opportunities such as getting involved with creative industries! I have seen a lot of Deaf role models out there such Tasha Ghouri from Love Island and Rose Ayling-Ellis who won Strictly Come Dancing. Seeing these kinds of role models has been really inspiring to see and it made me even more proud to be Deaf. This shows we really can do anything!
Having that confidence is important because that is when you will realize you can do anything you want to do. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise! Just keep being yourself. There are many doors that are ready to be opened just for you. Just don’t let your deafness stop you from doing what you love, we are just humans. We can do literally anything that others can do! I really wish I could tell my younger self all of this stuff! Now it’s my turn to say it to you.Thank you for reading this.
Much Love, Olivia Dillon
Check me out on Instagram! Art Insta: @OliviaDillonArt Personal Insta: @Oliviarosiee
