21 Feb 2024
20 members attended:
”Spending the morning with Eye Matter at Tate Modern was a delight and really gave me a boost. It can be hard to engage with art as a totally blind person, especially when it was once a major part of your life, but I knew I was in good hands with Suzie and the team as they’re always so encouraging, supportive and understanding. after all meeting at Southwark station, we nmade our way to Tate Modern where we met their Access Team. Anyone who needed a guide was paired up with a volunteer and we were all given audio headsets. In the Turbine Hall we heard about Behind the Red Moon by El Anatsui, a complex installation made of 1000s of metal bottle tops. This piece fills the vast space and is in 3 sections so it was a bit like being shown 3 pieces of art. The describers had their work cut out, explaining the scale and form of it and did a great job. They told us about how the work was constructed alongside the concept and historical context which was fascinating. I particularly appreciated the time and effort put in to producing tactile boards which had small example sections of the artwork for us to feel. It allowed me to visualise the piece so much better and made me feel more connected to it. That was fantastic.”
“We saw Babel by Cildo Meireles which is a piece I’ve heard about but never experienced. We listened to the swirling sounds of the circular tower of radios and were told that the lighting in the room is kept very low so visitors focus on sound and can see the various coloured LED lights shining. It was so fascinating to consider how the tower was constructed (old tech at the bottom, changing to new tech as it rises) and what the artist was interested in conveying. We could hear a mix of constantly changing music and voices from all the different stations.”
“I was so energised and inspired by attending Eye Matter’s collaboration with Tate Modern in providing an audio-described tour of artworks by Ghanaian artist, El Anatsui, and Brazilian artist, Cildo Meireles .
“there was much expertise in assisting all of us to get the best experience in being able to take in the depth of these brilliant artworks, through a variety of sensory approaches, and elevate our voices in rendering our own interpretations aloud, and having a group collaborative experience about what it all meant. It was fabulous. Tactile, touch objects were also provided to give an impression of El Anatsu’s creative approach to his art by providing an impression of these by touch. It was a fantastic experience. Whole-hearted thanks to Suzie, eye Matter , the sighted-guides and to the fantastic Visitor Experience and Access team at Tate Modern :)”