Bulley, James. 2016. 'Tactus: Sound Scores for the Blind and Visually Impaired'. In: 'Make:Shift': Crafts Council Conference 2016. Museum of Science and Industry, Manchester, United Kingdom 10 November 2016. [Conference or Workshop Item]

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Abstract or Description

The 'Tactus' series is an investigation into direct communicative artworks for the blind and visual impaired. The textile based scores are haptic sound generating surfaces that celebrate the braille music notation system of Louis Braille and the graphic scores of Cornelius Cardew. 'Tactus' explores the interweaving of the auditory and tactile, and offers a questioning of the nature of art objects and their presentation in galleries and museums.

The tactile score is composed of numerous cells of braille and graphic notations that form an overall sound composition. These cells can be explored by touch, with the tactile and textural patterns varying based upon the sound material they represent. The sound score does not operate under any particular time signature or fixed global linear arrangement allowing for a dynamic recombination of rhythmic and harmonic score material and a flexibility in exploration by the audience. The sound material heard from the work is drawn from a large score of material recorded specifically for the piece in the months leading up to the installation. When a certain patterning of the tactile score is touched, related sound patterns are triggered from the sound score and heard back instantly across a spatial array of speakers invisibly embedded inside the wall-mounted installation.

Item Type:	Conference or Workshop Item (Talk)
Departments, Centres and Research Units:	Music Music > Unit for Sound Practice Research
Dates:	Date Event 10 November 2016 Accepted 10 November 2016 Published
Event Location:	Museum of Science and Industry, Manchester, United Kingdom
Date range:	10 November 2016
Item ID:	19947
Date Deposited:	27 Feb 2017 13:10
Last Modified:	21 Jul 2017 14:32
URI:	https://research.gold.ac.uk/id/eprint/19947

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