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It is a two-part project, an audiovisual and kinesthetic installation, realized in Krasnodar in collaboration with a local community of blind and visually impaired people.

 

In this work I turn to practice of “empathetic interaction”, trying to get my feelings and perception (as the author’s) in sync with those of a spectator. Here I use the method of art therapy, shaping viewer’s appeal for realization of new visual experience for him/her or solving his/her visual issues, strongly associated with their corporality.

 

The main topic of this “collaborative investigation” is such aesthetic category as “beauty”. How do blind people think themselves beautiful? How do the other people see them? What emotions does a visually impaired person have when accepting oneself and one’s body?

 

The result of this art-interaction is a series of portrait photos of blind people and sound clips. Audial part of the installation consists of interviews (talks with visually impaired people) and audios of our communication during the shooting. Visual and kinesthetic part is represented by portrait photos settled in lightboxes. 

 

Person’s contours (inflexions of the body, traits and features, garment pieces) and interior design items get volume in the photos by the means of chasing with sharp needle, which can be associated with Braille lettering. Portraits are put in lightboxes, which let warmth pass through the picture surface. Heat control is regulated by the thickness of the plastic elements of the box. Usage of thin and thick plastic   metaphorically points at the level of contact between the artist and the character. If there is a lot of empathy in our interaction and social distance is shortened — picture surface is warmer. And vice versa.

 

Focus change — from visual to tactile and audial perception — provides an opportunity to consider the category of beauty from different points of view.