Blind with Camera, a project of the Beyond Sight Foundation Mumbai presents Beyond Sight, a unique exhibition of photographs by the visually impaired. The exhibition will open at the Kala Academy on August 20 at 4pm by a group of under privileged kids.

The exhibition will remain open for viewing till August 22 daily from 10 am to 7.30 pm. The exhibition is being held as part of the World Goa Day celebrations.

Beyond Sight is an exhibition of photographs taken by photographers with varying degrees of visual impairment, ranging from partial to total blindness. Various touch, audio clues, memories of sight, warmth of light and intuitive abilities are used by the visually impaired to create mental images before they judge to take a picture. They use the camera as an extension of ‘self’ to explore the visual world, and gain deeper insight while recording their imagination and point-of-view.

This exhibition is a very special event for Goa. Photographs taken by visually impaired from Goa are on display along with works of other visually impaired photographers from Mumbai and New Delhi. In 2010, Blind with Camera project conducted series of workshops on photography in Goa for the visually impaired in the state, in collaboration with National Association for the Blind, Goa. A workshop on pinhole camera was conducted for amateur blind photographers in collaboration with Center for Alternative Photography Goa.

Heritage Jazz, Goa is the main supporter and media partner for the above mentioned workshops and ‘Beyond Sight’ exhibition.

Beyond Sight is an inclusive exhibition and provides touchable raised images, Braille footnotes, large prints, visual aids and an audio description tour for the visually impaired visitors. Blind with Camera project was started by Partho Bhowmick in Mumbai, India. Early 2004, accidentally he picked up an old issue of a photo magazine from a pavement vendor in Mumbai, India to come across an article on Evgen Bavcar, an accomplished blind photographer based in Paris. His passion for photography made him contact Evgen over the Internet and got profoundly influenced by his work and philosophy. He engaged himself in self-study on blindness and visual art, and in the process, came in touch with several blind photographers and blind artists around the world and people working towards giving new insight to the blind and their artistic expression.

Visually impaired photographers have feeling of pride and belonging to their accomplishments, which elevated their self-esteem, developed their confidence and personality, social and workplace skills. Part of the proceeds from sales of photographs goes to the visually impaired photographers and balance is used to cover the cost of current and future projects.

Blind with Camera project and Beyond Sight exhibition is the first of its kind in India. In 2009, to widen the scope and deepen social deliverables of Blind with Camera project, Partho founded the Beyond Sight Foundation, a registered charitable trust.

Beyond Sight Foundationpromotes cultural and social integration of people with visual impairment through art and cultural practices, by providing training in arts - photography, visual, performance and literary, development of creative skills, opportunity to exhibit artworks, equal access to art, economic opportunity, and building capacity for blind centric art culture and enriching community and general public through renewed art, and by offering sensitisation workshops and settings.