Lugs Will Tear Us Apart: Deaf choir sign Joy Division

This may not be news in the strictest sense. It's not "new", but it is new-ish. And interesting. Definitely worth reporting, especially if you live in Vancouver, maybe even if you don't. Anyway...

In, what for some may be a truly "WTF, is this art?" moment, a project slash installation sees a deaf choir signing a Joy Division song. Its full title: Sign-Singing, Love Will Tear Us Apart, Joy Division 1979, Deaf Choir 2000. Yeah, it seems pretty ambitious...

The song being "translated" is 'Love Will Tear Us Apart' and as there's, like, no music or sound, British artist Ian Skedd has tried to match the emotions expressed in the song with signing from the choir.

According to the official website, the project:

"Takes the form of a large-scale three-channel video installation that explores the translation of the rhythm and emotion of a seminal pop song into sign language, a silent, visual and gestural form of communication."

It takes place at the Western Front Society, Vancouver, and runs from May 23 to June 27, so if you happen to be in town, or have enough money to get yourself out there, go and have a looksee.

Can you guess which lyric this is? Answers on a postcard.

N.B: We have no idea.

Other candidates for this treatment, maybe even for a follow-up series? I'd like to suggest Dead Kennedys' Fresh Fruit For Rotting Vegetables, or perhaps Sunn O)))'s Monoliths & Dimensions, fine album that it is. Songs For The Deaf? Too obvious.