In the absence of sight, what would art be? What can we create? 

Visual artists focus around visual sensibilities where there art works around all things visual. This is the story of Alecia Neo who bridged communities through the use of art. She shed light into the merging of two worlds that’s obviously disparate from each other.

To dream the impossible is possible, no matter what vocation you want to take, even if it is around installing garage doors Luton or building skyscrapers, that dream is achievable if you put your heart into it.

The Visual Artist : Bringing Light Into The Dark

In 2012, SIF supported Alecia’s exchange in Taiwan where she worked with the Bamboo Curtain Studio. She created a photography workshop for a group of visually impaired and blind participants. This was really an interesting experience for Alecia. It was both an experiment as an artist as well as for the participants who came on board.

The Taiwanese were extremely open and extremely generous with their knowledge. So when Alecia was there, it was a great learning experience for her. All the knowledge she learned evolved when she went back to Singapore. As soon as Alecia set foot in Singapore, she started her project which she called Unseen Constellations. Seven youths (all visually impaired) participated in the project. The youth were all from Ahmad Ibrahim Secondary School.

How Visual Art Worked for The Visually Impaired

During this workshop, the students did exercises and peer interviews. They were asked to focus on the self and their dream vocation. So based on that, Alecia had further dialogue with the students to discuss how they want to take this experience further. After numerous discussions, the students were paired up with suitable mentors who later on became the collaborators for the next two years.

Light in the Dark

It’s amazing to know how art can give hope and bring joy even to those who think there is no hope because they cannot see. It is in the calling of Alecia that she believes people are more alike than what we believe to be true. Each individual has latent potential. If we are able to tap into that, if we are able to unlock that potential, there would be a lot of great things that could possibly happen.