The Henry Moore Institute in Leeds has opened "Beyond the Visual," the first major UK exhibition of sculpture centered on blind and partially blind artists and curators. Co-curated by Ken Wilder, Aaron McPeake, and Clare O'Dowd, the show features works by 16 international artists including Henry Moore, Barry Flanagan, Lenka Clayton, Emilie Louise Gossiaux, David Johnson, and others. The exhibition prioritizes touch, sound, and sensory engagement, with all objects available to handle, textured flooring mats, high-contrast signage, and audio descriptions. It includes new commissions such as David Johnson's "Nuggets of Embodiment" (2024-25), made of 10,000 stone-plaster Digestive biscuits with Braille text.
The exhibition matters because it challenges the traditional notion of "sculpture for the blind" as a separate category, instead proposing a universal "vocabulary of touch" that enriches the experience of sculpture for all visitors. By centering the lived experience of visually impaired people in every aspect—from marketing to gallery layout—the show models inclusive curatorial practice and redefines how museums can engage with sensory perception. It also highlights the ongoing tension between preserving valuable artworks and making them accessible, a key issue for museums worldwide.