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Pre-project: Sensorial Art Exhibition

31 October, 1–2 November, 14 December, 18 December 2023 | Overlyssalen, Fredrikstad Library, Norway



I carried out a pre-project titled Sensorial Art Exhibition together with other artists, exploring the question:
How can we create an inclusive art exhibition that engages senses beyond vision and brings together performing art, sound art, and visual art?


Phase 1 | 31 October–2 November 2023

We built a mock exhibition using diverse artistic elements — including body, scent, sound, and textiles — and invited small groups of test visitors (children, an art student, and visually impaired participants) to explore how these elements could engage different senses.


Phase 2 | 14 December 2023

This phase focused on the bodily experience of sound, as we explored how to create sound experiences for Deaf and hard-of-hearing audiences.


Phase 3 | 18 December 2023

We reflected on Phases 1 and 2 within the artist group and discussed how we want to move the project forward.


I’m deeply grateful to have received project funding from Arts Council Norway to support this pre-project, which allowed me to explore and develop my artistic research through sensorial and inclusive methods.


Credit
Idea, Concept, Artistic Leadership and Production

Ayana Ishihara

Collaborating Artists

Anders Amundsen, Ayana Ishihara, Inger-Reidun Olsen, Live Haug Skullerund, Maja Sjöström, Ronny Patrick Jacobsen, Tulle Ruth Koefoed-Jespersen

Supported by

Arts Council Norway


Acknowledgements

Test visitors – Children

Alison Kronstad, 3rd grade students and teachers from Children’s International School Fredrikstad | Tobias Hareide Berg, Valentina Gashaj Larsen and 1st and 2nd grade students and SFO teachers from Sagabakken skolen

Test visitor – Art student

Caroline Bang Hedegaard

Test visitors – Visually impaired participants

Andreas Poppe (The Norwegian Association of the Blind and Partially Sighted - Østfold), Anne-Line Bakkeli, Malin Bjerke, Svein Erik Hansen

Venue supportKristin Johansen (Overlyssalen)




Phase 1 - Dancer and visually impaired participant dancing together | Photo: Ayana Ishihara
Phase 1 - Dancer and child wearing masks and costumes | Photo: Ayana Ishihara
Phase 1 - Exhibition space | Photo: Ayana Ishihara
Phase 2 - Musician and actor in sound session | Photo: Ayana Ishihara

©Ayana Ishihara 2026