When talking about art, we put huge emphasis on just one sense: sight. The message is almost that if you can’t see, you can’t experience art.
I am visually impaired, and have always loved going to galleries. Through touch and sound tours, artworks open up. For any art lover, using more than one sense provides a much richer understanding. Here are five ways to “see” art if you’re visually impaired.
Touch Tours
Experiencing sculpture through touch is rewarding, whether you are visually impaired or not. On the Tate and V&A touch tours visually impaired people can experience everything from sculpture to architecture, touching objects to gain an understanding of their texture, shape and mass. You are led between a series of different tactile objects, which are curated on different themes.
tate.org.uk; 020 7401 5113
vam.ac.uk; 020 7942 2000
Living Paintings
This charity works with art galleries all over the UK to produce tactile, raised images of famous paintings. They are produced on thin square sheets of white plastic by using specialised thermopress equipment, then painted. The tactile images are combined with audio descriptions on a CD, and are a great way to help you understand the composition and different details of a painting. Living Paintings deliver tactile art packs to visually impaired people around the UK, shipped free to your door.
livingpaintings.org; 01635 299 771
Art Through Words, National Gallery
At these monthly seminars, experienced lecturers give detailed descriptions of a painting, dealing with concepts of space, lighting, objects, facial expressions and the ambience of the artwork. Workshops also incorporate multi-sensory stimuli such as music and song to enhance your understanding of the painting and its deeper context. Free sessions take place the last Saturday of each month (excluding Dec).
Email education@ng-london.org.uk or call 020 7747 5820
Vocaleyes audio description
These audio-described tours are available in most of the UK’s major galleries – there is a full list on its website. You will be guided through the gallery using headphones with descriptions of each painting covering colour, materials, objects, shape and its historical and cultural context.
vocaleyes.co.uk
National Gallery Love Art app
Most major galleries now offer specialised apps, but the National Gallery’s Love Art app is one of the most accessible and fun to use. It combines atmospheric music and sounds, with full audio descriptions and analysis of different works. Users can explore some of the gallery’s most important artists, movements and paintings, by navigating a user-friendly menu - a great resource even when you aren’t in the gallery. The app is fully accessible, and compatible with Apple voiceover and zoom.
£1.99 from iTunes
