Unseen
Listening to Visually Impaired South Africans
$38.68
- Paperback
240 pages
- Release Date
18 June 2026
Summary
After artist Joanne Bloch experienced serious sight loss, she felt called to explore what it means to be visually impaired in our society. Unseen gives both her own reflections and those of 20 other South Africans, each told in the unique voice of its contributor.
The conversations and stories in Unseen reveal many hidden complexities. They describe sensory and bodily adaptations, as well as the systemic barriers to basic rights that are built into our society. They show the constant …
Book Details
| ISBN-13: | 9781967673988 |
|---|---|
| ISBN-10: | 1967673985 |
| Author: | Joanne Bloch |
| Publisher: | Catalyst Collective |
| Imprint: | Catalyst Collective |
| Format: | Paperback |
| Number of Pages: | 240 |
| Release Date: | 18 June 2026 |
| Weight: | 0g |
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What They're Saying
Critics Review
“In her moving personal account of sight loss, combined with interviews with a range of partially sighted and non-sighted South Africans, Joanne Bloch presents a devastating indictment of the systemic barriers to access and accomplishment that confront people living with disabilities in our society.” – Kobus Moolman (award-winning writer and academic)
About The Author
Joanne Bloch
Joanne Bloch was an exhibiting visual artist for most of her adult life, with her work featured in solo and group exhibitions, including the 2013 Venice Biennale. Alongside her art, she worked as a freelance writer, focusing on human rights and educational materials.
In 2011, six months into her PhD in Fine Art, Joanne experienced irreversible sight loss. This led her to abandon art-making and dedicate herself fully to writing after completing her PhD.
With a long-standing interest in life writing, Joanne has contributed to several interview-based books for young adults and children as an interviewer, photographer, and writer. Her latest book, Unseen, is a reflection of her personal journey with visual impairment, her growing concern about the ignorance, stigma, and discrimination faced by visually impaired South Africans, and her commitment to amplifying marginalized voices. She currently resides in Cape Town.
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