Stephen Burke, Bleep

Spray paint, chewing gum, oil and litter on tactile tile with steel frame.
40x60cm/16x24inches

Tactile paving, also referred to as ground surface indicators or detectable warning plates, are a network of textured ground surfaces found on stairs, footpaths and train stations. These tiles are formed from truncated bars, cones and domes which signal navigational messages or warnings to visually impaired pedestrians when they are detected by foot or cane. For example, the textured tiles used in this painting are commonly found at platform edges and signify a stop code, as there is a steep drop ahead. Tactile paving was originally developed in Japan by Seiichi Miyake in 1965. Just two years later it made its first appearance at a road intersection in Okayama City and was quickly adopted across the city and by the Japanese Rail Way. In the 1990s, these paving systems were implemented in the US, UK and Australia, and can now be found commonly across the world.