Between touch and sound. A synaesthetic code for the colour perception

Abstract This article presents the design of a combined tactile and auditory code for encoding colours for blind individuals, intended for the reproduction of paintings, particularly non-figurative ones. The aim of the proposed system is to evoke a sensation related to colour in blind users, not as a forced association with the sighted concept of colour, but rather as a means to develop an abstract and personal notion of colour through tactile and auditory assistance. The system is based on studies on chromatic synaesthesia conducted by artists and musicians throughout the twentieth century and is primarily designed for the enjoyment of abstract paintings from that period.