Jay Price's new interactive game-artwork exposes overlooked histories of disability discrimination.

A subversive memorial to the ‘people no-one remembers,’ new interactive game-artwork exposes overlooked histories of disability discrimination.

The Mine by Jay Price is a major new artwork available as an interactive game, audiobook, and film. Immersing the user in the derelict, underground venue of ‘the mine,’ a disused space found underneath (and locked out of) the art gallery upstairs, the work details historical and contemporary examples of the structural marginalisation of disabled communities. From faeries as scapegoats, to forced sterilisation, right up to the ongoing pandemic, The Mine is a visceral unravelling of ableist social tropes, human
rights violations, and grassroots resistance.

The Mine builds on Price’s existing corpus of work shining a light on the marginalisation of disabled people in society today. In 2021, Price’s work Canaries was commissioned as part of the Adam Reynolds Award shortlist exhibition, Empty When Full and they went on to receive the 2022 Adam Reynolds Award itself, which provides a £10k bursary and a creative residency opportunity to a mid-career disabled artist.
Incorporated into The Mine are full foley sound design, traditional stained glass work, and metal work in the form of brass sculptures from which, through the use of wax rubbing sticks, users are able to uncover and download an artwork of their own (see below).

Jay Price's new interactive game-artwork exposes overlooked histories of disability discrimination. — Adam Reynolds Plaque: In-game screenshot depicting a plaque mounted on a dark brick wall. Perspective is limited by the reach of the torchlight. In front of the user, on the wall, a golden metal plaque is highlighted by both the torch and a thin neon green outline, indicating it is an interactive object. On the plaque, within a circle, is the side profile of a man. Beneath is text reading ‘Adam Reynolds. Sculptor, Creator, and Teacher.’

I am super impressed with The Mine, though not surprised. Jay’s approached this incredible project
with their characteristic integrity and I love the decision to utilise a game to inform and expose the nature of bias against individuals labelled as disabled both historically (shockingly violent) as well as the current need to further efforts of inclusivity and understanding. I love the dark basement, the sounds of the gallery above providing the player the experience of being locked out and unseen. Jay’s cunning use of a game to subvert and educate has been delivered intelligently and successfully. I look forward to exploring the further formats and to this work being seen and understood widely.
Stacie McCormick, Director, Unit 1 Gallery, Founder, Fair Art Fair.

Scroungers: In-game screenshot. Perspective limited by the reach of the torchlight. The torch is being shone directly at a crumbling brick wall, highlighting a round space of visible graffiti. In black, scrawled text, ‘Scroungers’ is written. The text is then further outlined in neon green, indicating it is an interactive object.

Continuing Shape Arts’ innovation around accessibility and digital delivery, The Mine is the latest in a series of collaborations with Hot Knife Digital Media.

The work is available for free through the App Store and Google Play Store with the audiobook and filmed experience. search for The Mine: Under tender feet on either store for phones/tablets only

Watch walkthrough of The Mine: shapearts.org.uk/watch-the-mine
Listen to audio described walkthrough of The Mine: shapearts.org.uk/listen-to-the-mine-audio-described
Listen to the audiobook of The Mine: shapearts.org.uk/listen-to-the-mine-audiobook
Experience The Mine with BSL interpretation: shapearts.org.uk/with-bsl-interpretation
How to use the app video (with BSL and captions): https://youtu.be/w-WrKeX8cCw
Read texts included in The Mine: shapearts.org.uk/read-stories-from-inside-the-mine

About the artist

Jay Price is a London based artist, with a Masters from the Royal College of Art, and Bachelors degree from University for the Creative Arts. They have exhibited in the UK, USA, South America, and Asia. Price’s practice seeks out original insights into the audience and methods of production that address urgent challenges facing both artist and artworld, contributing to the evolution of the industry, and adding an alternate & controversial perspective to ongoing debates. @jpriceart

Shape Arts is a disability-led organisation breaking barriers to creative excellence. They deliver a range of projects supporting marginalised artists, as well as training cultural venues to be more inclusive and accessible for disabled people as employees, artists and audiences. Running alongside this portfolio is the NLHF funded National Disability Movement Archive and Collection (NDMAC), a radical collecting and retelling of the Disability Rights Movement’s heritage story; and, until recently led by Shape, Unlimited, which, largely supported by Arts Council and British Council funding, provides a platform for disabled artists to develop, produce and show ambitious and high-quality work, and which aims to transform perceptions of how the work of disabled artists is received in the mainstream art world.