by seeing without sight
This is an absolutely incredible story about a blind artist, who has never had vision, who can draw and paint as well as a sighted person. Scientists are trying to find answers to these questions:
Because if Armagan can represent images in the same way a sighted person can, it raises big questions not only about how our brains construct mental images, but also about the role those images play in seeing. Do we build up mental images using just our eyes or do other senses contribute too? How much can congenitally blind people really understand about space and the layout of objects within it? How much “seeing” does a blind person actually do?
Thanks to mirabilis for this link!
February 6, 2005 in Being an Artist, Other artists by Marja-Leena
Isn’t the something! I’m astonished. I wonder if they can repeat it with other blind people?
Wow, what an amazing story! My favorite quote: “Seeing is as much touching as it is seeing.”
Absolutely fascinating. This is a subject I could really get involved in. Thanks for this link.
Thanks all! This really makes one think about seeing and what life would be like without sight. We take our sight for granted, don’t we? I wonder if there are any other blind artists out there? Armagan may be an unusually gifted person to overcome this disability.
Oh, and take extra good care of your eyes, everyone !!
Not quite the same, but I have an interesting addendum to this: there is a blind art gallery owner in North Norfolk; she is an eccentric, colourful woman who claims still to have an ‘eye’ for paintings. Once sighted, she now relies on touch, conversations with artists, and some sixth sense that she trusts. I spent a couple of hours with her last year going through recent acquisitions – she had total recall of colours, themes and of the artists’ styles and biography. Very fascinating, I have a cutting somewhere and will make a post on her if I can find it.
That IS fascinating! I hope you find that clipping and make that post…I’d like to learn more!