Painting at your fingertips.
Tactile Painting exhibition By Camille Maloisel a French artist

Art does not reproduce what is visible, it becomes visible. Paul Klee (theory of modern art) The tactile painting exhibition 'Painting at your fingertips" is a unique painting experience. The original aspect of this exhibition attracted the interest of the Louvre tactile gallery, Mr Philippe Schmitt-Kummerleé and the sponsorship of the French Visually Impaired federation. The paint and other products are mostly used in relief which enables the visually or part visually impaired and people with sight problems to feel or see the works easily. The visually impaired at birth have not been able to visually experience painting. They have their own images which they cannot relate to paintings. In addition to a personal artistic inspiration there is the interest that this work represents for people who can see and the visually impaired.For the first time they have the opportunity to encounter painting with Camille Maloisel's exhibition. During their lifetime people who have become visually impaired or who have sight problems do not have the opportunity to enjoy art like they used to. This exhibition is a moment when they can feel less excluded, replenish their taste for art and reconnect to matter. By touching works of art with their fingertips, feeling the volume the matter, rhythms and space in the pictures, enables them to rebond with emotions that art brings. People who can see and who go to art exhibitions live a unique moment where they can do something they have always wanted to do, touch the paintings. A gesture which is usually not allowed is for once permitted. They can also visit the exhibition blindfold to be able to experience new sensations and discover how difficult it is for the visually impaired to imagine space and three dimensions. During the 2 large exhibitions in Paris at the Palais des Congres and the Mairie de 7arr, over 4000 visitors, voyants and malvoyants, had the opportunity to visit this art show, unique in its domain. The number of exhibits is limited to 12 large size paintings as the 'tactile reading' takes more time than a visual reading. The exhibition, which took Camille Maloisel 18 months to setup is not only an artistic experience but also the effective partnership and co-operation network with all the Federation Francaise des Nonvoyant. Visit "Painting at your fingertips" it is living painting in a different way.