With his music and positive approach Signmark, the world’s first deaf rap and hip hop artist, changes attitudes towards the deaf and promotes the rights of disabled people in Finland and around the world.
To celebrate 100 years of Finland’s independence and 25 years of diplomatic relations between Finland and Croatia, the Embassy of Finland in Zagreb has the pleasure to announce the visit of Signmark, the world’s first deaf rap and hip hop artist. In his first visit to Croatia, the public will have the opportunity to see Signmark in action at events in Zagreb on Tuesday 9 May 2017.
PUBLIC LECTURE:
From Impossible to Possible- Dreams are made to be reached”
Tuesday 9 May 2017 at 17.00 hrs.
Europe House, Augusta Cesarca 4
Event open to the public
Signmark ‘s preferred approach is to teach using his own example. As a motivational speaker that inspires the youth, Signmark will speak about overcoming obstacles in life and encourage youth to think big and be open to different opportunities. The event is organized by the Embassy of Finland, in cooperation with the European Commission Representation in Croatia. The lecture will be in English sign language and spoken English through an interpreter.
GUEST PERFORMANCE
Concert on the occasion of Europe Day
Tuesday 9 May 2017 at 21.00 hrs
Europe Square, Augusta Cesarca 4
Event open to the public
Signmark will be a guest performer at a concert to mark Europe Day in Zagreb featuring the Detour band, organized by the European Commission Representation in Croatia. Signmark’s live shows are always bilingual and inclusive for a varied crowd. The songs are performed with sign language and spoken English through an interpreter.
About
Signmark (Marko Vuoriheimo) grew up in a family that used sign language. Already as a child he dreamt of combining sign language with music. This dream has taken him far, as Signmark is the first deaf person in the world to launch a hip-hop DVD in 2006 and to get an international record deal for his second album Breaking the Rules, released by Warner Music. With his music and positive attitude Signmark has promoted the rights of the disabled people in Finland and around the world in over 40 countries, including New York at the UN General Assembly, in Astana, Kazakhstan during the OSCE Summit and in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in connection with the African Union Summit. As a special representative, Signmark joined forces with the Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs in 2011 and has highlighted the human rights of disabled people at various international forums. His favoured approach is to teach through his own example. Finland considers promoting the rights of persons with disabilities to be an important human rights priority both nationally and internationally. According to Signmark, the deaf should not be treated as disabled but as a language minority, who have their own culture and history.
Over the years, Signmark ignored those who doubted him, kept pursuing his dream and found a way of combining rhythm and his message through hip hop and rap music. He uses hip-hop because it has a clean bass-line and strong vibrations that help the deaf artist feel the music and through that adapt to the rhythm as he signs his lyrics, proving that music is more than what you can hear! In addition, the hip-hop culture stretches the boundaries of art, culture, politics, and society. Rap goes beyond music, lyrics, culture and languages and helped the signing community find their own voice.
Visit Embassy of Finland website and www.signmark.biz for more information.
