Australie.GAD and Optic 2000 Offer a New Perspective on the Visually Impaired through the Power of AI

Apr. 05, 2023

A concept conceived and orchestrated by Australie.GAD for Optic 2000, a French network of opticians, offering a new perspective on the visually impaired with the Optic 2000 Group’s foundation and the Valentin Hauÿ Association, named for the founder of the first school for the blind in 1785, where Louis Braille was educated.  

The concept involves a unique photo exhibition entirely created by artificial intelligence based on memorable mental images described by visually impaired individuals.  

INSIGHT 

Disability shouldn’t be a barrier - beyond darkness, there is light. Those who are visually impaired can and ought to be able to contribute to creative and artistic projects just as well as anyone else.  

APPROACH 

Raise public awareness about the cause of visual impairments by making an invisible disability visible, through a joint effort by the Optic 2000 corporate foundation, French eyewear company Lissac, Audio 2000, a network of hearing specialists, and the Valentin Haüy Association. 

The creative idea is to reveal, through images designed by AI with the help of a photographer-artist, the memories of four visually impaired people selected from among the association's members. These unique images have never existed anywhere else but in their minds.  

Through a personal discussion with photographer Marc Da Cunha Lopes, each shared the most meaningful memories of their lives – unforgettable mental images.  

Da Cunha Lopes then worked to fine tune the memories shared to push the realism of each as far as possible. 

OPERATION 

The creations will be exhibited in Parisian art gallery Atelier 13 Sévigné from April 5-8, where the artists’ work will be on display in order to raise awareness about their invisible disabilities. An opportunity to demonstrate how AI can have a positive role and impact when used properly.  

The exhibit will be fully accessible to visually impaired individuals, with braille translations of all signage and a website developed to meet digital accessibility standards so the works can be heard through audio descriptions. 

After the exhibit, the works will be sold for 750€ apiece and all proceeds will go to the Valentin Hauÿ Association to offer cultural and sports activities for the visually impaired and blind.

A touching and emotional film comprised of scenes of the discussions demonstrates how the visually impaired individuals were transformed into artists for a day. 

The film also highlights how the photographer worked to retrace their memories to produce accurate images and was recorded in a manner that preserved and demonstrated the special bond forged between the photographer and each visually impaired person who shared their memories.