AXSChat Podcast with Furrah Syed, Artist and Educator, advocate for making art accessible to all

Furrah Syed, FRSA is an Artist and Educator based in London. A strong advocate for making art accessible to all, Furrah’s abstracts are focused on texture, movement and colour energy which can not only be seen but can also be experienced using the sense of touch. Her inclusive approach to sharing art led her to design and develop her Art Appreciation Workshop for the Blind and Partially Sighted in 2009 which she has delivered to organisations in Hong Kong,

Malaysia, Singapore UK, USA, India and Australia. Furrah has also delivered adapted versions ofher workshop at schools for children with additional needs as well as mainstream schools.

 The way Furrah’s art is experienced is also unusual: the paintings can be viewed in any orientation, they change with the light, and they are all intentionally untitled to avoid influencing the viewer’s perspective. This is a liberating experience as viewers are free to interpret what they see or feel knowing that there is no right or wrong response. This approach values the viewers interpretation and encourages a dialogue, which are key tenets of Furrah’s ethos for making art accessible to all.

 Furrah continues to explore the use of tactile engagement in areas outside of her art,empowering people by showing them the technique of distinguishing colour energy without the need for sight. Furrah’s workshops, available to sighted participants as well as those who are blind or visually impaired, provide a space for dialogue regarding accessibility and improvement of existing products and services to benefit those with additional needs.

 Furrah also actively promotes the technique of using art to practice mindfulness which increases a sense of well-being both emotionally and physically and assists those who are dealing with mental health issues.

At every event that Furrah hosts her aim is to create an inclusive environment for all to feel empowered and valued. She feels that “We all have different and unique perspectives and can learn a great deal from each other.”

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