10:53am Friday 25th August 2006
By Stephen Abbott
Art gallery visitors are usually discouraged from handling valuable works by famous British artists in case they cause thousands of pounds of damage.
But, at a new specially-adapted exhibition at the Watermans Arts Centre in Brentford, blind and partially-sighted Hounslow residents are being told to touch, feel and grab works by artists such as Damien Hirst and Anish Kapoor to help them enjoy the event.
The Raised Awareness exhibition features touching tables in front of famous paintings where raised copies of the images can be felt by those with impaired vision.
Large print texts, braille panels and audio recordings will also help to make the event accessible and enjoyable for all.
Bill Woodrow, who created the project for Tate Modern in 2003, said: "This is an exhibition for all people to experience. For the first time blind and partially sighted people will have access to original drawings by some of the country's best artists. For sighted people it will give something of the experience of the complexity of using another sense that you do not usually use with art, touch.
"When you go round the gallery most people want to touch things. This is an opportunity to do that and to compare their sight with their touch."
Raised Awareness has been brought to the borough by the Hounslow Association for the Blind, in partnership with Watermans.
It will take place between September 5 and October 9.
Blind visitors will be able to navigate the exhibition on their own, although touch tour guides will be on hand to help anyone who wishes to be escorted .
Hands-on art workshops for visually impaired or sighted adults and children will take place at the Watermans on September 19 and 28 between 11am and 1pm.
To book a free place at one of the workshops, call the Watermans box office on 020 8232 1010.
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