Most people rely on the sense of vision to appreciate the art works, connecting what they see to their memories and experience. But what if you cannot take advantage of sight? Does that mean you cannot feel the connotation of art? Of course not. The ways of experiencing art are diverse and multisensory, which are waiting to be discovered.
From September 18 to October 12, 2025, the Art Center of National Chung Hsing University will host “Touch to See the World: A Tactile Exhibition in 2025,” which is a tactile art exhibition that encourages participants to discover artworks through touch. By exploring the shapes, sizes, textures, temperature, and hollow of artworks, children, adults, seniors, and people with visual impairments can all immerse themselves in the joy of tactile art. This events allow visitors to directly engage with the artworks and enter a dialogue with them, creating a various and inclusive artistic space. Furthermore, hope to foster a society which embodies kindness and understanding towards diverse needs, and to support cultural accessibility.
This tactile exhibition is curated by Associate Professor Chao, Hsin-Yi (National Chung Hsing University), Associate Professor Takesue Hiroko (University of Yamanashi), and the artist Shibata Noriko, bringing together resources from universities, public institutions, artists, and schools for the visually impaired both in Taiwan and abroad, showcasing tactile art from Taiwan, Japan, Italy, and France. The artworks include contributions from faculty and students of National Chung Hsing University, Da-Yeh University, University of Yamanashi, Hokkaido University of Education, Yamanashi Prefectural School for the Visually Impaired, Taipei School for the Visually Impaired, the Taiwan Art Beyond Vision Association, and Providence University. More than 70 touchable works will be presented, including sculptures, picture books, and teaching materials. Through multiple forms of guidances like Braille, videos, and audio, visitors can more easily comprehend and engage with the essence of tactile art.
From August to October 2025, the exhibition toured from Taiwan to Japan, where in the Guangfu Hall of Banqiao 435 Art Zone, the Art Center of National Chung Hsing University, and the Yamanashi Prefectural Library. During this period, there are 12 diverse events will be held, such as international lectures, creative workshops, and tactile art appreciation sessions etc.. Meanwhile, the organizations of Taipei School for the Visually Impaired, Taichung School for the Visually Impaired, Yamanashi Prefectural School for the Visually Impaired, the Huiguang Guide Dog School Taiwan, the Institute for the Blind of Taiwan, as well as faculty and students from various university courses were invited to join us via in-person and online activities. The event broadened international cultural exchange and shared the unique appeal of tactile art.
Tactile art enriches the types of art-expression with creativity and inclusiveness. It enhances people’s ability of tactile perception and provides individuals with visual impairments an equal opportunity to participate. Audiences from different cultural backgrounds can immerse themselves in the touchable exhibition with joy. Welcome to the exhibition areas with an open mind that taking your time to feel the artworks by touch, building up the works' outfit with your own imagination, and using different senses to discover the world beyond visual limits.
►NCHU Exhibition Information
Admission Free
Opening reception: at 12:00 p.m., September 18, 2025
Date: September 18 ~ October 12, 2025
Opening hours: 9:00-17:00 from Mon. to Fri., 10:00-16:00 from Sat. to Sun. (closed on public holidays)
Venue: Art Center, NCHU (The 7th floor in Library building)
►Exhibition-Related Activities
* 9/18 Thur. 14:00-15:00
Lecture Title: Tactile World: Exploring the Connection Between Human, Technology and Art
Speaker: Associate Professor Ho, Hsin-Ni (Kyushu University)
discussant: Associate Professor Chao, Hsin-Yi (National Chung Hsing University)
* 9/21 Sun. 09:30-12:30
Tactile Art Workshop
* 9/25 Thur. 10:00-12:00
Tactile Art Appreciation Session
* 9/30 Tue.
ふれてみる欣賞會: An On-line Guided Tour with Artists
►Travelling Exhibition Links
Banqiao 435 Art Zone: https://www.435.culture.ntpc.gov.tw
Art Center of National Chung Hsing University: https://art.nchu.edu.tw/
Yamanashi Prefectural Library: http://art-edu.sub.jp/01/
