“Touch, Sculpt, Knead – Seeing with Hands, Imagining in the Dark” is an inclusive art project initiated by curator Trần Lương, organized by the Center for Art Patronage and Development (APD) in collaboration with Vietnam and Friends, with the support of the Goethe-Institut Hanoi. The project incorporates a series of practices and experiences of sculpting clay in the dark to awaken the imagination and explore the capabilities of the senses. This exploration also uncovers the differences and ‘linguistic’ interactions between the senses thereby eliminating preconceived notions about the limits and capacities of human perception. Through activities including hands-on workshops, interactive display, documentary presentations, and discussions involving the participation of both blind/visually impaired and sighted people, the project also creates opportunities for dialogue and increases awareness and understanding between sighted people and those with disabilities, particularly blind/visually impaired people.

The project was developed as a result of the Goethe-Institut Hanoi’s “Open Call: Inclusive Art” cooperation programme. This programme aims to address the concerns of people with disabilities in Vietnam and to highlight the inclusive potential of the arts and how everyone in society – both able-bodied and disabled – benefits from greater inclusion.