Celebrated South African artist Berco Wilsenach’s latest exhibition, ‘Extracts from the Blind Astronomer’, aims to foster dialogue between the seeing and visually impaired. Currently on display at Spier Wine Farm in Stellenbosch, the exhibition runs until 21 April 2025.
The exhibition forms part of Berco’s ‘Project for The Blind Astronomer’, a collaboration with Spier Arts Trust’s Patronage Programme.
Accessibility
The project took Berco five years to complete, involving extensive research and consultation with the visually impaired. While the exhibition addresses themes of visual impairment, access to knowledge, and the complexities of sensory experiences, it remains playful, provocative, ironic, and interactive. “As with any meaningful artwork, this exhibition doesn’t take itself too seriously,” Berco explains.
At the heart of the exhibition is the Star Atlas, a book written in Braille. It depicts a magnitude 6 star, the smallest star visible to the naked eye, to make it accessible to the visually impaired. The work also includes representations of stars across the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, galaxies, deep-sky objects, star clusters, and nebulae.
“The irony lies in the unattainability of the stars and the concept of a blind astronomer,” Berco explains. “These maps are cartographically accurate, but the information is in Braille. They offer a visual experience for the sighted while making the knowledge behind them accessible to the visually impaired. Both groups remain in the dark, lacking a complete sensory experience.”
Interpretative
One of the exhibition’s standout pieces is The Stone Universe, a collection of interactive puzzles that invites playful interaction and appeals to visitors of all ages. “It enables a broad range of people to engage with the work on multiple levels. Children, for example, instinctively try to fit the right pieces together, even without any instructions or clues,” Berco shares.
He adds, “Art is truly successful when it communicates visually without explicitly telling people what to do. By interacting with the puzzles, you become the Master of the Universe, dismantling and reassembling it. The combination of sight and touch, along with the encouragement to physically explore the works, creates a unique and immersive experience.”
Sections of ‘Project for The Blind Astronomer’ have been showcased locally and internationally in prestigious venues such as The Smithsonian’s Museum for African Art, Newark Museum of Modern Art, Kunstakademie Düsseldorf, Pretoria Art Museum, and Spier Wine Farm. ‘In die sterre geskryf’ (“Written in the Stars”) will also be displayed as part of Spier’s Light Art event-a visual treat to enjoy after dark.
Exhibition details
Location: Old Wine Cellar, Spier Wine Farm, Stellenbosch
When: The exhibition runs until 21 April 2025
Time: Open daily from 9am-5pm
Cost: Entrance to the exhibition is free
Contact: www.spier.co.za
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