site is significant to our perception of reality both in our surroundings and in
reality both in our surroundings and in
reality both in our surroundings and in the images we are exposed to the impact
the images we are exposed to the impact
the images we are exposed to the impact of images on our collective view and her
of images on our collective view and her
of images on our collective view and her own memory has never been greater than
own memory has never been greater than
own memory has never been greater than it is now the vast majority of public
it is now the vast majority of public
it is now the vast majority of public art is created to be experienced by
art is created to be experienced by
art is created to be experienced by sight
sight
sight what would your place in society feel
what would your place in society feel
what would your place in society feel like if you couldn’t see would you visit
like if you couldn’t see would you visit
like if you couldn’t see would you visit exhibitions
exhibitions
exhibitions what would the view from a mountaintop
what would the view from a mountaintop
what would the view from a mountaintop tall building mean to you an image is
tall building mean to you an image is
tall building mean to you an image is not something that exists entirely on
not something that exists entirely on
not something that exists entirely on its own in many ways it is created in
its own in many ways it is created in
its own in many ways it is created in the mind of the viewer and interpreted
the mind of the viewer and interpreted
the mind of the viewer and interpreted by the viewers personal experience to
by the viewers personal experience to
by the viewers personal experience to have an image described to you by
have an image described to you by
have an image described to you by another person is to get that other
another person is to get that other
another person is to get that other person’s view and that’s exactly what
person’s view and that’s exactly what
person’s view and that’s exactly what happens when we describe an image to a
happens when we describe an image to a
happens when we describe an image to a person with little or no sight
people have tried to address this by
people have tried to address this by making tactile images images that can be
making tactile images images that can be
making tactile images images that can be felt rather than seen but what tactile
felt rather than seen but what tactile
felt rather than seen but what tactile images have in common is that they very
images have in common is that they very
images have in common is that they very seldom show the whole image they only
seldom show the whole image they only
seldom show the whole image they only show part of the image what you might
show part of the image what you might
show part of the image what you might call the descriptive part to truly
call the descriptive part to truly
call the descriptive part to truly experience an image one has to get the
experience an image one has to get the
experience an image one has to get the sense of the image atmosphere which very
sense of the image atmosphere which very
sense of the image atmosphere which very often lies within the light of the image
often lies within the light of the image
often lies within the light of the image tactile images what they have in common
tactile images what they have in common
tactile images what they have in common whether they are 3d 2d line or the
whether they are 3d 2d line or the
whether they are 3d 2d line or the low-profile bas-relief is that the only
low-profile bas-relief is that the only
low-profile bas-relief is that the only short part of the image as I said I was
short part of the image as I said I was
short part of the image as I said I was wondering would there be a way to change
wondering would there be a way to change
wondering would there be a way to change this would it be a way to find or create
this would it be a way to find or create
this would it be a way to find or create tactile images that you can feel the
tactile images that you can feel the
tactile images that you can feel the light with your hands imagine being
light with your hands imagine being
light with your hands imagine being blind in being able to truly experience
blind in being able to truly experience
blind in being able to truly experience for yourself
for yourself
for yourself conic images like photographs of the
conic images like photographs of the
conic images like photographs of the first man on the moon or paintings by
first man on the moon or paintings by
first man on the moon or paintings by Rembrandt I wanted to find a way to make
Rembrandt I wanted to find a way to make
Rembrandt I wanted to find a way to make tactile photographs that would give both
tactile photographs that would give both
tactile photographs that would give both an intellectual and emotional experience
an intellectual and emotional experience
an intellectual and emotional experience combining the descriptive and
combining the descriptive and
combining the descriptive and atmospheric elements because I knew if
atmospheric elements because I knew if
atmospheric elements because I knew if that could be done with photography the
that could be done with photography the
that could be done with photography the same method would be appliable to other
same method would be appliable to other
same method would be appliable to other complex images like paintings so in 2011
complex images like paintings so in 2011
complex images like paintings so in 2011 I started the project tactile
I started the project tactile
I started the project tactile photography the idea for the project
photography the idea for the project
photography the idea for the project came from a meeting I had with a group
came from a meeting I had with a group
came from a meeting I had with a group of people with deafblindness hearing
of people with deafblindness hearing
of people with deafblindness hearing these people talk about their lives made
these people talk about their lives made
these people talk about their lives made me realize how much we have in common
me realize how much we have in common
me realize how much we have in common and yet how much they are excluded from
and yet how much they are excluded from
and yet how much they are excluded from the meeting game is strong Earth to try
the meeting game is strong Earth to try
the meeting game is strong Earth to try to contribute to make these people more
to contribute to make these people more
to contribute to make these people more included in society in cooperation with
included in society in cooperation with
included in society in cooperation with the Swedish Association for the
the Swedish Association for the
the Swedish Association for the deafblind I started to explore new
deafblind I started to explore new
deafblind I started to explore new possibilities through the project we
possibilities through the project we
possibilities through the project we worked with a team of deafblind partners
worked with a team of deafblind partners
worked with a team of deafblind partners who gave us input took photographs and
who gave us input took photographs and
who gave us input took photographs and tested our tactile prototypes together
tested our tactile prototypes together
tested our tactile prototypes together with printing experts we tried a variety
with printing experts we tried a variety
with printing experts we tried a variety of printing techniques such as 3d UV
of printing techniques such as 3d UV
of printing techniques such as 3d UV inkjet Braille we even explored
inkjet Braille we even explored
inkjet Braille we even explored interactive paper very interesting
interactive paper very interesting
interactive paper very interesting techniques with lots of possibilities
techniques with lots of possibilities
techniques with lots of possibilities but none of them suited our three main
but none of them suited our three main
but none of them suited our three main goals our first goal was that the
goals our first goal was that the
goals our first goal was that the tactile image should be both visual and
tactile image should be both visual and
tactile image should be both visual and tactile so that everyone can share
tactile so that everyone can share
tactile so that everyone can share experience from the same physical image
experience from the same physical image
experience from the same physical image the second goal was that the process
the second goal was that the process
the second goal was that the process should be as automatic as possible
should be as automatic as possible
should be as automatic as possible making it scalable and affordable and
making it scalable and affordable and
making it scalable and affordable and our third goal was that the result
our third goal was that the result
our third goal was that the result should not only show the content as form
should not only show the content as form
should not only show the content as form but also give an emotion
but also give an emotion
but also give an emotion experience so in the end we found a
experience so in the end we found a
experience so in the end we found a technique that served all three goals a
technique that served all three goals a
technique that served all three goals a technique that edges textures on two
technique that edges textures on two
technique that edges textures on two layers of transparent surfaces that can
layers of transparent surfaces that can
layers of transparent surfaces that can be placed on top of a visual image with
be placed on top of a visual image with
be placed on top of a visual image with this we can create visual images with
this we can create visual images with
this we can create visual images with tactile elements of for depth and even
tactile elements of for depth and even
tactile elements of for depth and even light light is atmosphere the tactile
light light is atmosphere the tactile
light light is atmosphere the tactile photographs has a surface with a
photographs has a surface with a
photographs has a surface with a structure where smooth corresponds to
structure where smooth corresponds to
structure where smooth corresponds to lighter and rough corresponds to darker
lighter and rough corresponds to darker
lighter and rough corresponds to darker when one of our deafblind partners
when one of our deafblind partners
when one of our deafblind partners explored a tactile photograph taken by a
explored a tactile photograph taken by a
explored a tactile photograph taken by a deafblind photographer he explained he
deafblind photographer he explained he
deafblind photographer he explained he examined part of the image that was the
examined part of the image that was the
examined part of the image that was the ocean saying oh yeah here is the ocean
ocean saying oh yeah here is the ocean
ocean saying oh yeah here is the ocean ah this makes me want to swim in the
ah this makes me want to swim in the
ah this makes me want to swim in the ocean then we knew we had a method that
ocean then we knew we had a method that
ocean then we knew we had a method that worked and later when we exhibit the
worked and later when we exhibit the
worked and later when we exhibit the tactile photographs in Stockholm for the
tactile photographs in Stockholm for the
tactile photographs in Stockholm for the first time one of the visitors a woman
first time one of the visitors a woman
first time one of the visitors a woman in her forties totally blind since birth
in her forties totally blind since birth
in her forties totally blind since birth understood for the first time in her
understood for the first time in her
understood for the first time in her life when examining a photograph taken
life when examining a photograph taken
life when examining a photograph taken from under a bridge what a gloomy
from under a bridge what a gloomy
from under a bridge what a gloomy atmosphere in the dark area actually
atmosphere in the dark area actually
atmosphere in the dark area actually means to melt make to help her
means to melt make to help her
means to melt make to help her understand what sighted people refer to
understand what sighted people refer to
understand what sighted people refer to and thereby being more included in
and thereby being more included in
and thereby being more included in society that made us proud
society that made us proud
society that made us proud and there were other less obvious
and there were other less obvious
and there were other less obvious unexpected discoveries that revealed
unexpected discoveries that revealed
unexpected discoveries that revealed insight into the way we create images
insight into the way we create images
insight into the way we create images some blind people were confused when
some blind people were confused when
some blind people were confused when examining in objects that were cropped
examining in objects that were cropped
examining in objects that were cropped by the frame of the picture saying
by the frame of the picture saying
by the frame of the picture saying things like why are his legs so short or
things like why are his legs so short or
things like why are his legs so short or objects that were tilted like buildings
objects that were tilted like buildings
objects that were tilted like buildings shot some unusual angles things that
shot some unusual angles things that
shot some unusual angles things that sighted people take for granted but are
sighted people take for granted but are
sighted people take for granted but are actually artifacts of a visual
actually artifacts of a visual
actually artifacts of a visual representation the tactile photographs
representation the tactile photographs
representation the tactile photographs enables shared experience and new
enables shared experience and new
enables shared experience and new discussions between people with and
discussions between people with and
discussions between people with and without sight people would say things
without sight people would say things
without sight people would say things like don’t you just love the way the
like don’t you just love the way the
like don’t you just love the way the light falls on the ocean and yeah but
light falls on the ocean and yeah but
light falls on the ocean and yeah but how gloomy that place under the bridge
how gloomy that place under the bridge
how gloomy that place under the bridge feels and they also bring out the less
feels and they also bring out the less
feels and they also bring out the less obvious benefits seeing what is in front
obvious benefits seeing what is in front
obvious benefits seeing what is in front of you as you enter a room or a building
of you as you enter a room or a building
of you as you enter a room or a building is an open invitation for you to enter
is an open invitation for you to enter
is an open invitation for you to enter now a view can be photographed
now a view can be photographed
now a view can be photographed translated into tactile photographs so
translated into tactile photographs so
translated into tactile photographs so that also people without sight can feel
that also people without sight can feel
that also people without sight can feel invited and take part of experiences
invited and take part of experiences
invited and take part of experiences that sighted people take for granted
it’s very hard for people with sight to
it’s very hard for people with sight to understand the reality of being blind
understand the reality of being blind
understand the reality of being blind one of our deafblind photographers Rolf
one of our deafblind photographers Rolf
one of our deafblind photographers Rolf totally blind since birth he was once
totally blind since birth he was once
totally blind since birth he was once asked if he sees only black black he
asked if he sees only black black he
asked if he sees only black black he replied no I don’t see black I say
replied no I don’t see black I say
replied no I don’t see black I say nothing nothing imagine the world
nothing nothing imagine the world
nothing nothing imagine the world without any visual reference and
without any visual reference and
without any visual reference and speaking of visualization I would like
speaking of visualization I would like
speaking of visualization I would like to do an experiment not the dangerous
to do an experiment not the dangerous
to do an experiment not the dangerous one with you I want all of you to close
one with you I want all of you to close
one with you I want all of you to close your eyes and visualize the photograph
your eyes and visualize the photograph
your eyes and visualize the photograph I’m about to describe to you now okay
I’m about to describe to you now okay
I’m about to describe to you now okay keep your eyes closed and visualize this
keep your eyes closed and visualize this
keep your eyes closed and visualize this photograph of a lake beneath a mountain
photograph of a lake beneath a mountain
photograph of a lake beneath a mountain the photograph is shot on a cloudy day
the photograph is shot on a cloudy day
the photograph is shot on a cloudy day there is mist covering the top of the
there is mist covering the top of the
there is mist covering the top of the mountain along the mountainside there
mountain along the mountainside there
mountain along the mountainside there are deep lines traces from the laced
are deep lines traces from the laced
are deep lines traces from the laced latest Ice Age the lake is in the lower
latest Ice Age the lake is in the lower
latest Ice Age the lake is in the lower right of the picture and to the far
right of the picture and to the far
right of the picture and to the far right just above the lake there is a
right just above the lake there is a
right just above the lake there is a little cottage
the lower left part of the image there
the lower left part of the image there are gross close to the camera so now you
are gross close to the camera so now you
are gross close to the camera so now you have an image in your mind an image that
have an image in your mind an image that
have an image in your mind an image that probably changed as I gave you input
probably changed as I gave you input
probably changed as I gave you input about the content I’m pretty sure none
about the content I’m pretty sure none
about the content I’m pretty sure none of you visualize the actual image I have
of you visualize the actual image I have
of you visualize the actual image I have described
described
described open your eyes is this what you
open your eyes is this what you
open your eyes is this what you visualized being blind and not
visualized being blind and not
visualized being blind and not visualizing what is actually described
visualizing what is actually described
visualizing what is actually described to you that is not negative in itself
to you that is not negative in itself
to you that is not negative in itself but it makes it hard to join in
but it makes it hard to join in
but it makes it hard to join in conversations that refer to the visual
conversations that refer to the visual
conversations that refer to the visual world tactile photographs makes this
world tactile photographs makes this
world tactile photographs makes this conversation possible but the tactile
conversation possible but the tactile
conversation possible but the tactile photographs are not only useful for
photographs are not only useful for
photographs are not only useful for people without sight they can also be
people without sight they can also be
people without sight they can also be useful for people with cognitive
useful for people with cognitive
useful for people with cognitive difficulties it’s so much easier to
difficulties it’s so much easier to
difficulties it’s so much easier to concentrate on something you feel than
concentrate on something you feel than
concentrate on something you feel than on something you see and they can also
on something you see and they can also
on something you see and they can also be used as an educational tool for
be used as an educational tool for
be used as an educational tool for children tactile images catch attention
children tactile images catch attention
children tactile images catch attention and invites you to explore them which
and invites you to explore them which
and invites you to explore them which makes it fun to learn about arts or
makes it fun to learn about arts or
makes it fun to learn about arts or theory artists and so on being weather
theory artists and so on being weather
theory artists and so on being weather proof the tactile photographs can be
proof the tactile photographs can be
proof the tactile photographs can be displayed outdoors as public science
displayed outdoors as public science
displayed outdoors as public science panoramic views signs for objects or
panoramic views signs for objects or
panoramic views signs for objects or buildings or just plain old another
buildings or just plain old another
buildings or just plain old another advantage is the fact that they are
advantage is the fact that they are
advantage is the fact that they are analog they will not become incompatible
analog they will not become incompatible
analog they will not become incompatible in six months they don’t even require
in six months they don’t even require
in six months they don’t even require updates they just work but the big
updates they just work but the big
updates they just work but the big surprise for us was how these tactile
surprise for us was how these tactile
surprise for us was how these tactile photographs gives everyone a new way to
photographs gives everyone a new way to
photographs gives everyone a new way to experience often images from a new and
experience often images from a new and
experience often images from a new and deeper
deeper
deeper effective it goes beyond accessibility
effective it goes beyond accessibility
effective it goes beyond accessibility to give people with sight the
to give people with sight the
to give people with sight the opportunity to have a physical
opportunity to have a physical
opportunity to have a physical experience of
experience of
experience of Auton images through touch through touch
Auton images through touch through touch
Auton images through touch through touch we experience emotionally before we make
we experience emotionally before we make
we experience emotionally before we make an intellectual valuation of the content
an intellectual valuation of the content
an intellectual valuation of the content when exploration through sight is mainly
when exploration through sight is mainly
when exploration through sight is mainly done in our intellect touch touches you
done in our intellect touch touches you
done in our intellect touch touches you deeper than sighted us touch goes
deeper than sighted us touch goes
deeper than sighted us touch goes directly into our sensory system where a
directly into our sensory system where a
directly into our sensory system where a sight first goes through an associative
sight first goes through an associative
sight first goes through an associative and analytical process touch is
and analytical process touch is
and analytical process touch is communication beyond the mind
we all have tactile memories for
we all have tactile memories for instance I can remember the cloth on our
instance I can remember the cloth on our
instance I can remember the cloth on our couch when I was a little boy or how the
couch when I was a little boy or how the
couch when I was a little boy or how the surface on the handle of my first life
surface on the handle of my first life
surface on the handle of my first life felt touch gives us emotional
felt touch gives us emotional
felt touch gives us emotional experiences that goes much deeper than
experiences that goes much deeper than
experiences that goes much deeper than experiences through sight just as with
experiences through sight just as with
experiences through sight just as with smell so by adding this new dimension of
smell so by adding this new dimension of
smell so by adding this new dimension of touch to visual images we create a way
touch to visual images we create a way
touch to visual images we create a way for everyone to share the same
for everyone to share the same
for everyone to share the same experience and at the same time we give
experience and at the same time we give
experience and at the same time we give everyone a way to experience art and
everyone a way to experience art and
everyone a way to experience art and images more deeply and more directly we
images more deeply and more directly we
images more deeply and more directly we began with an effort to help share our
began with an effort to help share our
began with an effort to help share our world of images with people who cannot
world of images with people who cannot
world of images with people who cannot see them directly and in the end we
see them directly and in the end we
see them directly and in the end we found a way that gives to us all a more
found a way that gives to us all a more
found a way that gives to us all a more emotional connection to these images
thank you
thank you [Applause]
”
Be First to Comment