As we take a detailed look at the installations I hope to demonstrate the value of experimenting with diverse ideas to solve the complex challenges raised by inviting people to ‘please touch’.

This is the bronze tactile interpretation of ‘The destruction of Sodom & Gomorrah ‘by the painter John Martin created for the Laing Art Gallery. In 2002 this painting was part of a travelling exhibition organised by the Laing alongside the National Gallery in London and Bristol Art Gallery. Julie Watson, Education Officer at the Laing was keen to explore ideas for a tactile that would encourage visually impaired visitors. She was happy to experiment with a sculptural approach.

The John Martin painting is permanently exhibited in Newcastle and the bronze has continued to be displayed alongside it since the travelling exhibition closed.

The interpretation is one-tenth the size of the painting. At approximately 300 mm by 500 mm it falls within a 700mm arc. This area, recommended by the RNIB, is easy to reach with both hands without needing to change body position.

Bronze is extremely durable. As a casting material it picks up very fine detail. It takes up ambient temperature very quickly and so has the attractive quality of warming to touch.

Some elements of the painting are simplified while others are exaggerated. Simplification is essential in order to make important information comprehensible by touch alone. Exaggeration draws attention to dramatic elements in the painting and enhances experience of the scene. It is challenging and encourages emotional response to the subject. Using a high relief technique enabled me to interpret the foreground, background and mid-ground of the composition and offered enough depth to explore both form and detail.

When the bronze was first displayed it was mounted on a two-sided plinth. A booklet and audio support system were provided. The booklet built up pictorial information in raised lines gradually over three pages. The audiotape contained information about the painter and subject matter as well as guiding the user through the booklet and over the bronze.

Visually impaired groups have been visiting the bronze since it was installed. Comments made by one fourteen-year old pupil from a local school Visual Impairment Unit are illuminating: She was excited that she would be able to bring her family to the gallery and that she would be the one who could show the painting and tell them all about it.

Many other positive stories and comments collected since 2002 from visually impaired visitors have similarly reinforced the value of tactile installations.

Less than 1% of visitors to the Laing are visually impaired. On most weekdays the majority are schoolchildren and senior citizens. Annual evaluations carried out since 2003 have been revealing.

When the first evaluation was done the bronze was unlabelled. It showed that many sighted visitors wanted to touch it but many thought they were not allowed to. When the audio equipment broke down the Gallery felt that an earlier proposal for a ‘please touch’ sign was now justified. This overt invitation to touch was reflected in the following year’s evaluation, which showed a significant rise in the number of sighted people enjoying the tactile. An active interest in tactile objects was recorded in visitor comments.