Eye-tracking exhibition

AN EXHIBITION of art created through eye-tracking technology that allows people with limited mobility to be creative has gone on display in Lerwick.

Mareel is hosting Eye Can Draw – a collection of pieces by established mainland artists Dawson Murray and Jackie Smith, who both have multiple sclerosis – in its upper cafe bar.

The artwork was created through the Dundee Contemporary Arts Print Studio and it will be on display in the Lerwick venue for the rest of the year.

The pieces – which are all available to buy – have been made through an eye-tracking device, allowing those with limited or no mobility the chance to be expressive.

Fife based Murray, who has had MS for decades and is now quadriplegic, said that whilst the technology – which works on a point-to-point basis – was initially time-consuming to use, it has been providing impressive results.

He commented: “My initial drawings were very frustrating as I seemed unable to draw anything other than zigzags and even at that they were completely unintentional!

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“However, over the course of several weekly sessions I gradually managed to get the hang of placing the cursor where I wanted it to be and started to draw some simple shapes like squares, triangles and circles.”

Smith’s colourful pieces meanwhile are reminiscent of Matisse and she said that the eye-tracking device has shifted her concept of art creation.

“Working with the eye-tracker has completely altered the way that I am currently thinking about my work,” she said.

“The directness and simplicity of the drawings I have made has encouraged me to think in a very lucid, unequivocal way, making images whose power stems from their clarity and openness.”

Shetland Arts exhibitions officer Jane Matthews, meanwhile, added that the exhibition has a particular relevance to Shetland due to its high count of people with multiple sclerosis.

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She said: “There is such value in this project and we are lucky to have the work here on public display in Shetland, especially given the unusually high incidence of MS here.

“We are hoping to be able to arrange a visit from Jackie to talk about her work later in the year, and also give a demonstration of the equipment with Robert Jackson who has led the project at DCA.”