Audio Description for Inclusion in Art Museums: Sculpture and Installation Artwork Through the Senses
摘要
Audio description (AD) is a translation modality used by art museums to make their collections accessible to blind and partially blind people. It fosters inclusion and equal access to the visual arts, culture, and society. Studies of visual art AD have described its linguistic and contextual features, focusing on both frequent and less common elements. However, most research has concentrated on two-dimensional artworks, leaving a gap in the study of three-dimensional works such as sculptures and installations. These types of artworks, with their spatial, sound, and tactile qualities, hold particular potential for blind individuals, especially those without visual memory. This chapter explores the characteristics of AD for modern and contemporary sculpture and installation art through a qualitative analysis of a multilingual corpus from prominent museums, including Tate Modern, MoMA, and the Guggenheim. The analysis examines the techniques used to translate these works into accessible formats, with an emphasis on multisensory and intersensory (synaesthetic) approaches. These methods enhance the sensory experience of blind and partially blind individuals, offering richer engagement with the visual arts. The chapter also considers contextual data accompanying the ADs to provide insights into how these resources are developed and implemented.