In the video work “What’s Your Name?”, Roland Wegerer delivers a deeply personal and artistically innovative exploration of speech, identity, and vulnerability. As a stutterer, Wegerer stutters his own name throughout the video, transforming what is often perceived as a limitation or challenge into a powerful and central artistic method. The act of stuttering, rather than being hidden or corrected, is embraced and amplified, becoming the main subject and driving force of the piece.
The video employs multilayered and shifted visual effects, which intensify the impact of the stuttering. These artistic choices make the repetition, hesitation, and rhythm of the stutter not only audible but also visually palpable. The layering creates a sense of echo and fragmentation, drawing viewers into the lived experience of stuttered speech and making its unique beauty and frustration tangible. By foregrounding this personal characteristic, Wegerer challenges societal perceptions of speech disorders and questions conventional ideas about communication and self-expression.
“What’s Your Name?” also demonstrates Wegerer’s commitment to exploring the voice as both a medium of expression and a sculptural element. The sound component is crucial, as it transforms vulnerability into strength and challenges viewers to reconsider notions of normalcy, communication, and artistic value. By making his stutter the focal point, Wegerer not only asserts his own identity but also opens a universal meditation on the power of embracing one’s unique voice.
True to his motto, “Creativity is my drive, innovation my passion,” Wegerer uses this piece to push the boundaries of contemporary media art, turning a personal challenge into a compelling and thought-provoking statement about identity, language, and the courage to be seen and hear.