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‘Seeing in Isolation’, a new project by NPO Multistory and photographer Karren Visser, is sharing digital stories made with, and told by, visually impaired Sandwell residents. 

‘Seeing in Isolation’ gave members of Sandwell Visually Impaired (SVI) the opportunity to share their experience of sight loss through short films with audio recordings, family photographs, music and animation. The films challenge viewer understanding of sight loss and show how members of the blind and visually impaired community can take part in the visual world.

The stories have universal themes of resilience – participants share their memories, reflections, hopes, dreams, and the everyday challenges faced by them as members of the visually impaired community.

Photograph of Perm, age 17, taken in 1985, provided by Perm. Seeing in Isolation, produced by Multistory and Karren Visser, 2021.

The project ran through the pandemic with many participants shielding. Unable to photograph individuals and hear their stories in person, Karren worked with the participants over Zoom and on the phone to co-create the digital stories. 

Karren has degenerative myopia and glaucoma and experienced further sight loss during lockdown. While working on ‘Seeing in Isolation’, she also created self-portraits and audio recordings about her own experience for the first time.

Perm, Magda and Malvena the dog © Steve Keenan. Seeing in Isolation, produced by Multistory and Karren Visser, 2021.

Peter Knott, Area Director for Arts Council England yesterday said:

“The stories of Sandwell’s visually impaired community told in ‘Seeing in Isolation’ are truly inspiring. The creative work from this group is personal, educational and moving. Congratulations to them.

“Even in the midst of a pandemic, creativity has the power to bring us together, create space for reflection and spark conversation. For this group of visually impaired artists and their audience, it’s done just that.”

Sandra Troth, Development Worker from SVI yesterday said:

“With the onset of Covid-19 and the subsequent lockdown, it was amazing that the project carried on. Photography is traditionally an art that blind and visually impaired people feel isn’t for them. Then add lockdown and the odds start to look insurmountable. There’s been challenges along the way but talented and artistic people, creative minds, determination and resilience have worked together to make the project something new, real and very exciting. It has given our members a real sense of self-worth to know they have really been involved in something that challenges people’s understanding of sight loss. You don’t need sight to have true vision; that comes from within.”

Watch the stories here.