In 2024, FREEDOM TO SIGN™ has evolved into an online platform for Deaf individuals to "EXPRESS ART." This initiative addresses the underrepresentation of Deaf artists in mainstream art circles, providing a space for collaboration, mentorship, and advocacy. With the support of Hear A Million, an initiative by EnAble India, the platform is dedicated to overcoming barriers in the art industry, ensuring inclusivity, and amplifying the voices of Deaf artists.
The first event, Beyond Signs: The Power of Gestures, was be an art exhibition featuring 8 Deaf artists, held from September 19-22, 2024 at Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath, Bengaluru.
ISL Version
How It Began
What began in 2020 as an apparel initiative featured T-shirts designed by selected Deaf artists through seasonal collections, created to support a social cause by funding Deaf teachers teaching Indian Sign Language.
Over time, this vision has transformed into a dynamic creative platform that reimagines how sign language is seen, experienced, and valued through art.
Freedom to Sign is a platform dedicated to bringing sign language into art and visual performance in India. Through ISL Theatre, artist showcases, and curated exhibitions across cities, we create spaces where Deaf artists are seen and experienced, building their presence within the mainstream arts landscape.
Workshops
Structured, interactive sessions exploring sign language, visual storytelling, and creative expression.
Curated Exhibitions
Purposefully designed exhibitions that bring Deaf art into public and gallery spaces across cities.
Artist Showcases
platforms for Deaf artists to present their A dedicated platform for Deaf artists to present and exhibit their work.
ISL Theatre
Deaf-led performances grounded in the richness of visual language.
What We Create
What We Create
ISL Theatre
Deaf-led performances grounded in the richness of visual language.
Artist Showcases
platforms for Deaf artists to present their A dedicated platform for Deaf artists to present and exhibit their work.
Curated Exhibitions
Purposefully designed exhibitions that bring Deaf art into public and gallery spaces across cities.
Workshops
Structured, interactive sessions exploring sign language, visual storytelling, and creative expression.
Meet the Curator
Dr. Alim Chandani
Born in Mumbai, Dr. Alim Chandani relocated back to India in 2016. This will be his second exhibition as curator, following the successful debut of The Power of Gestures at Chitrakala Parishath in 2024—the first-ever exhibition in India showcasing the work of Deaf artists. He holds degrees in New Media/Interactive Design and Counselling, and earned his doctorate in Administration and Supervision in Special Education from Gallaudet University (USA), where his research focused on the assessment of the quality of higher education for Deaf students in India.
Dr. Alim's work centers on advancing quality education for Deaf individuals and promoting accessibility in public life through Hear A Million, an initiative of Enable India. He also leads his social enterprise, Freedom to Sign™, a brand that amplifies Indian Sign Language and showcases Deaf artists. In 2025, he coordinated interpreting for the Coldplay concerts in India, marking an important milestone for mainstream accessibility.
He has been a strong voice for Deaf rights at both national and international levels. After extensive global experience and spearheading numerous Deaf empowerment training and advocacy campaigns, he continues his work in India.
Dr. Chandani currently resides in Bengaluru and enjoys exploring new cafés, gourmet restaurants, and the slow rhythms of travel in the Himalayas. He also adores Italy, a love deepened by his travels there last summer.
ISL Version
Dr. Alim Chandani
Founder and Curator
Born in Mumbai, Dr. Alim Chandani returned to India in 2016. A curator whose work is shaped by a personal return to art and a commitment to bringing Deaf artists into the mainstream, he curated The Power of Gestures (2024) at Chitrakala Parishath, the first exhibition in India dedicated to showcasing Deaf artists, followed by Echoes of Silence: Our Whispers of Survival (2025) at Kala Ghoda Art Gallery, a deeply personal exhibition exploring themes of abandonment and resilience. He has also curated visual vernacular performances, bringing together and mentoring Deaf performers to present sign language as a powerful visual medium. His work has been presented at platforms including Serendipity Arts Festival (2024, 2025), India Art Fair, and Kiran Nadar Museum of Art. He holds a degree in New Media Design from Rochester Institute of Technology and Counselling from New York University, and a doctorate in Special Education from Gallaudet University, where his research focused on the quality of higher education for Deaf students in India. His work centers on advancing Deaf education and accessibility through Hear a Million, an initiative by Enable India. He leads Freedom to Sign™, a platform that amplifies Indian Sign Language and showcases Deaf artists. In 2025, he led interpreting coordination for the Coldplay India concerts 2025, marking a milestone in mainstream accessibility, and received the Art for Hope award by Hyundai. He is working toward establishing a dedicated space for Deaf art in India, creating long-term platforms for artists to be seen and sustained within the cultural landscape. Growing up, he had a deep passion for art, especially in design, but his path took a different direction. At 21, he learned sign language and embraced his Deaf identity, shaping his understanding of expression and community. Recognizing the immense talent within the Indian Deaf community, he now focuses on creating platforms where Deaf artists can be seen in the mainstream, using art as a form of advocacy rooted in Deaf lived experiences.
Himanshu Kansal
Creative Director
A. Soumya Rao
Content and Editorial