The exhibition ‘Extracts from the Blind Astronomer’ is offering art lovers a way to touch the stars! With a Braille Star Atlas, unintentional puzzles and interactive pieces, Berco Wilsenach’s work challenges the exclusivity of access gorgeously.
Stellenbosch, South Africa (08 January 2025) — A sensory art experience has visitors touching the stars thanks to Berco Wilsenach’s ‘Extracts from the Blind Astronomer’!
Extended following popular interest from viewers who attended the Light Art Festival, ’Extracts from the Blind Astronomer’ will feature works from Wilsenach that took the artist five years to complete.
As an artistic exploration of space and the world ‘out there’, Berco takes a unique approach by asking us not to rely solely on our sight.
The idea isn’t just about stars beyond, though. Dealing with ideas of visual impairment, access to knowledge and the privileged status of certain languages; the sensory art experience is one that also asks us to question the exclusivity of access.
“There’s a strong irony in having a blind astronomer showing all the stars that are visible to the naked eye. All the stars we see, I represent in a tactile way, so you can actually feel them,” Berco says.
In tow and central to the exhibition is the beautiful celestial guide ‘Star Atlas’—a book made up of knowledge describing the stars, written entirely in Braille.
“What’s beautiful about the book is that it’s exhibited in a way that embraces light, darkness and shadows to play with the senses,” Berco reflects.
Interactive puzzles are evident in another piece, ‘Stone Universe, ’ which is especially popular amongst the most curious humans—children.
But, the works are for anyone interested in viewing the world beyond our own in a different way.
“It allows a very large range of people to access the work on totally different levels,” explains Berco. “Children are trying to fit the right pieces to put the puzzle together even though there is no mention of it being a puzzle or indications of what should go where.
“People eventually just realise they should be interacting with it. I think art is very successful when you can communicate visually without actually telling people what to do,” concludes the artist.
The exhibition is set to be on display until 12 January at Spier Wine Farm’s Old Wine Cellar in Stellenbosch.
Sources: Supplied
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