Press kit: Contact me at the email address below.
After a car accident robbed renowned videogame producer and Bay Area native Ted Tahquechi of nearly all his sight, he turned to photography in order to share the way he sees the human form in a project titled Landscapes of the Body, which has been exhibited worldwide, including a multi-year solo exhibition at the Lighthouse for the Blind gallery in San Francisco Ca.
At the end of 2023, Ted and his wife Carrie began a partnership with the Andy Warhol Foundation for Visual Art and Redline Contemporary Art Center of Denver to expand the accessibility of this unique collection of work. The couple developed a process which uses 3d printers to make photographic images touchable.
“Our goal has always been to bring awareness to the inaccessibility of visual art for the blind and partially sighted. Our partnership with the Andy Warhol Foundation and Redline have allowed us to create a process that can bring almost any image to life, making it touchable. – says Ted” The process leverages Ted’s years of experience with Photoshop and other image manipulation programs.
Landscapes of the Body is a collection of images which grew out of Ted’s years spent studying light, specifically the way it wraps and shapes the curves of the body. Creating a set of photographs which does not feature the model’s face originally resolved a visual limitation for Ted, and after the first shoot, he fell in love with the abstract, flowing feel of the pictures. All images in the collection embrace the use of negative space and are representative of the remaining portion of Ted’s vision. “I want people viewing this set of photographs to share how I perceive the world. A significant portion of my visual field is black. I compose the photos based on what I can see and leave the rest as negative space, this is how I see through the camera.” says Ted. I feel blessed to have my wonderful wife Carrie, who is an amazing photographer in her own right working closely with me on this project.
Viewers of this collection will experience imagery ranging from softly lit and easily recognizable forms to those more indefinite, thought-provoking, and abstract. Throughout its black and white images, the collection explores models ages 19 to 76, with a multitude of ethnicities and body sizes ranging from petite to plus-size. While the imagery is of the nude form, it is not explicit, making this collection suitable for all viewers.
“These images celebrate diversity in age, body size and physical ability, and illustrate that the beauty of the human form is present in every body and not dependent on the idealized media-driven definition of beauty. It is my hope that expanding of the accessibility of this collection will allow it to serve as a template for other artists to understand the importance of making their work accessible to those who cannot see.”
Landscapes of the Body made its debut in 2017 in Denver Colorado, and since then has been featured in numerous photography publications and news media.
Media Contact:
Email: nedskee@tahquechi.com
Phone: 831-227-4796
Landscapes of the Body website: https://www.bodyscapes.photography/
Press Kit: contact me at the email address above.
Ted Tahquechi holds degrees in Fine Art Photography and Studio art Photography, and has set out to create accessible imagery which changes the perception of what the visually impaired can accomplish in the world of art. Ted doesn’t sell his work, rather he donates prints to raise money for selected charitable organizations like Guide Dogs for the Blind in San Rafael Ca. Ted worked for many years in the videogames industry creating and delivering 35 titles to market for Atari Corp. in Sunnyvale Ca, Accolade in San Jose Ca. and Mattel Toys in El Segundo Ca. Ted also has a body of photographic work which focuses on his Guide Dog Fauna created in cooperation with several industry-leaders to promote the use of legitimate service animals in the travel and hospitality industries. Ted is also an avid photo educator. photography influencer and travel blogger for the visually impaired – you can find more information and links to his other work at www.tahquechi.com
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