In Singapore, a photo exhibition was organised where photographs were converted into tactile displays with captions in Braille exclusively for visually impaired people. This first endeavour has been made possible by the French photographer Yann Arthus-Bertrand and the eyewear designer Alain Mikli.

The exhibition ‘Touch and See’ had the photographs titled ‘Earth from above’, which enabled the visually impaired people to touch and feel the photographs that were on display.

The idea for such an exhibition came about because Bertrand wanted to share his experience with visually impaired people. In the words of Mikli: “We always forget them (visually impaired people). They cannot see really all the pictures, but they have a sensation, they have a feeling, we can communicate with them, and that to me is the most important thing."

The duo certainly achieved what they set out to do. Visually impaired artist Victor Tan said: “First, just by touching the tactile image, I felt it was a piece of art: the feeling, the tactile, the flow, the movement, the line, the strokes, I thought it was a masterpiece. I then followed the descriptions and I started to realise and identify what those signs and symbols represented in the image that was taken by the photographer."

The exhibition is on in Orchard Road, Singapore, till January 17, 2006.