A photography exhibition questioning the conventional wisdom of 'vision' is currently on at the India International Centre featuring works by three international lensmen, all of whom, once sighted, are now completely blind.

The display, titled 'Vision Unseen', showcases seemingly impossible photographs shot by Frenchman Evgen Bavcar, US national Flo Fox and Kuniaki Ito from Japan.

"I choose these three photographers because each of them has a completely distinct approach to overcoming their disability and taking a photo," said Rakesh Nagar, curator of the event. Whether it's through sound, touch, memory or verbal descriptions from others, each photographer manages to capture a scene without the benefit of sight. In the cases of Bavcar and Ito, blindness came as a result of physical accident while Fox lost her vision gradually to multiple sclerosis.

The show was inaugurated on Thursday night by Pablo Bartholomew, recipient of the 2013 Padma Shri for his work in photojournalism. "As shown tonight, the ability to see is not a necessity. Many times, the use of your other senses can create a more sensitive picture," said Bartholomew.

Unfortunately, the artists were unable to attend the event though Ito's wife, Nanae Ito, could make it on her husband's behalf. "My husband was always fond of photograph. He will listen to the surrounding sounds and I will describe a situation to him; then he'll click the camera," she said.

In a written statement sent to the exhibition, Bavcar explains how the images are in his head, his "mind is the gallery", and through his sense of touch he can organize aesthetic compositions.

For Fox, her art is even more challenging as her condition has rendered her almost completely paralysed. "Since I am now extremely disabled, other people have to shoot the way I explain," said Fox in her written statement. Ironically, before her vision deteriorated completely, her photos would show images clearer than the way she could see them.

As in the recently-released film Ship of Theseus, where a visually-impaired photographer struggles to continue her art once her sight is restored, it seems that blindness can gift these individuals with a special vision manifested in their photos.Simply viewing the incredible photographs, it's easy to forget their producers lack the ability to see. Yet, their struggle no doubt makes their art that much more inspiring. As Ito noted in his written statement, "Through my photos I want to convey that in people there are limitless possibilities, difficulty and hardship can always be overcome. When I can do it, so can they."

The exhibition will stay open till September 29 and then become part of the upcoming Delhi Photo Festival.

Source: Times of India