- World Unseen exhibits blind individuals’ photography, including ultrasounds
- Karen Trippass experiences her unborn baby through 29-week ultrasound
- Canon, RNIB collaborate on photography exhibition for visually impaired
In addition to showcasing the photographs of blind individuals, the World Unseen exhibition presents additional images accompanied by braille and audio descriptions and illustrates how those with visual impairments perceive them.
Upon first examining the scan with her fingertips, Karen Trippass immediately recognised that her unborn child bore the features of her spouse.
She never imagined she would experience this pregnancy milestone in the same way that sighted expectant mothers do: the thrill of seeing the shifting black-and-white shapes of a developing embryo appear on screen for the first time. She was born with bilateral coloboma, a rare condition also known as cat-eye syndrome.
Ten years ago, while she was expectant with her eldest daughter, Phoebe, she was unable to partake in this activity. When questioned by medical personnel and social workers regarding her capacity to provide care for a newborn at that juncture, Karen explained that her visual impairment resulted in differential treatment and that her prenatal melancholy hindered her ability to form a bond with her child.
This time around, she was able to “meet” her unborn child via her 29-week ultrasound by utilising technology that generates an elevated image that simulates the felt sensation of her child writhing in her womb. She claims that having this and the ability to detect the pulse enhanced her sense of connection.
At this time, Ruby, the second daughter of Karen, is eight weeks old, and her scan ceases at their Surrey residence.
“The first thing I remember noticing was her nose,” according to her. “She has the features of my spouse. I shall never forget the sensation of her nose, the tip of her cranium, and the apex of her eyes.
“IVF was how we achieved both of my children; the journey to get there was lengthy. Already an emotionally charged occasion, the prospect of holding your newborn in the same manner that everyone else does… I merely wish that every woman with visual impairment who is also a parent could be granted that opportunity.
“I do not anticipate the NHS to implement it, but I believe a significant number of individuals would prefer it even if it required a nominal fee.” “I simply think it’s incredible; the idea of having family photographs in the future is quite intriguing.”
The NHS estimates that over two million individuals in the United Kingdom are affected by vision impairment, of which approximately 340,000 are registered as blind or partially sighted.
“The photography exhibition you don’t need to see” is the title of the new World Unseen exhibition, which Canon, in collaboration with the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB), is showcasing Karen’s scan of Ruby. This scanning project was developed by Canon.
Exhibition components include elevated prints, audio descriptions, acoustics, braille, and a collection of photographs captured by internationally renowned photographers, some of whom are visually impaired. The exhibition was meticulously curated with the experience of blind and partially sighted individuals in mind.
Traditional images are obscured in various ways to represent distinct forms of visual impairment, including diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma, for sighted individuals. It challenges the viewer to perceive life through the lens of a blind or partially sighted individual, provides an insight into the challenges they face, and serves as a reminder of the vision that those of us with sight depend on and often take for granted.
During the launch event, even the canapés engage the senses; attendees are encouraged to don headphones that emit marine sounds and a scent spray containing salt and vinegar, while fish and chip nibbles are served.
One of the photographers whose work is featured is the Blind Photographer, Ian Treherne, a native of Essex. Since his birth, he has suffered from RP Type 2 Usher Syndrome, which has rendered him deaf and caused him to lose nearly 95% of his vision over time.
He states, “I concealed my blindness for years.” “I operated under the guise of a sighted individual for an extended period. During my childhood, disability was an extremely unpleasant and challenging subject. I confided in only my closest acquaintances regarding it. I “came out” as blind in my thirties, and it has been extraordinarily beneficial for me to be forthright and honest about it. Additionally, I am convinced that by engaging in photography and collaborating with individuals who also have disabilities, one can significantly enlighten the general public.
Ian claims that photography enabled him to capture fleeting instances of time while he was losing his vision and that he has always been imaginative. He also harboured a rebellious spirit in his aspiration to assume a position behind the camera.
He states, “I knew that photographing while blind would cause some individuals mental and physical harm.” I foresaw that it would prompt some inquiries.
Therefore, he instructed himself by conducting internet research and practising with his camera. “My condition requires me to work approximately ten to twenty times harder than a fully sighted person,” he explains.
“Everything is a learning curve.” In my opinion, the most significant bar in society is the need to modify or shift perspectives. I believe that individuals are occasionally apprehensive about posing the query.
Canon ambassadors and world-renowned photographers from around the world contributed to the World Unseen exhibition with the following: Sebastio Salgado of Brazil, Yagazie Emezi of Nigeria, Samo Vidic of sports, Heidi Rondak of fashion, and Muhammed Muheisen, a Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist.
An additional inclusion is a photograph captured in Kenya by the acclaimed South African photojournalist Brent Stirton, which depicts the final male northern white rhinoceros. As you move your fingertips across the enlarged image, the texture and every crevice of the animal’s skin become palpable.
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Marc Aspland’s photographs of Lioness Chloe Kelly’s game-winning goal at Wembley Stadium during the Euro 2022 final are also on exhibit, along with an audio description that transports the audience to the moment of victory.
Ruby, however, is undoubtedly the focal point of attention as her mother cradles her in front of the scan. Karen laughs at the thought of people experiencing Ruby’s image, but she adores the notion that a significant number of visually impaired individuals will experience what a scanned image is like. “I didn’t know what to expect,” she says.
“Having this memory, this opportunity to see or ‘feel’ my unborn child before her birth, was phenomenal. “It’s even more special to have a record of it and be able to show it to Ruby when she’s older.”
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