Losing Vision: What Can Art Gain in the Absence of Sight?

This paper addresses the relationship between the visually impaired and the visual arts. The first section focuses on the scientific background of sight and vision disorders, as well as touch. Current research indicates that the blind can process complex spatial information through touch, just as the sighted can through vision. Thus visual art can be accessible to visually impaired people if it contains tactile information, such as 3D shapes or textures. However, galleries traditionally display art that visitors are only able to interpret visually, excluding the visually impaired and blind. My Fall project aims to challenge the dominant visual mode of interaction with art through a personal lens. By creating 3D works that are touch-accessible, both sighted and non-sighted people can experience my art