In order to give blind and visually impaired people the ability to enjoy classical art museums and galleries as the same way any seeing individual would, there have being organized a project suitably named Unseen Art.
The mission has come to reality through an IndieGoGo fundraiser and 3D-printing.-
Helsinki-based designer Marc Dillion turned his attention to art inspired by ultrasound scans and 3D photos.
He says on a promotional video, “Imagine not knowing what Mona Lisa smile looks likes, or Van Gogh’s sunflowers. Imagine you heard people talking about them and knew they existed, but could never experience them for yourself. […] For the millions of people who are blind, that’s a reality.”
These high quality models made to scale which can be displayed in museums has created by 3D imaging and a sand based form of 3D-printing.
Marc says, “It would be a revolution to get blind people going to art galleries — people hate them because there is nothing there to touch.”
An online platform where artists could submit their very own work in a 3D format was created to raise money by the Unseen Art project. So that anyone with a 3D printer could enjoy it.
“We are involving artists from all over the world to re-create classical art paintings in 3D. Sharing the models for free so that they can be 3D printed and experienced both in exhibitions and at people´s homes. A new accessible way to experience art for the blind.”
Visit their Facebook page if you would like to know more about the Unseen Art project, and if you would like to assist them with a donation, visit their IndieGoGo page here.