3D-Printed Classical Paintings Will Let The Blind “See” Famous Art For The First Time
The Unseen Art project, which is being run by Helsinki-based designer Marc Dillon, is using 3D printing to give blind people the opportunity to experience classical art that many sighted people might take for granted.
“Imagine not knowing what Mona Lisa’s smile looks like, 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,” the project explains in a video. They use 3D imaging and sand-based 3D printing to recreate these works of art on a scale and quality that can be put on display in museums.
Though their approach is unique, the Unseen Art project is not the first to have come up with this concept. 3D printing has been used to turn photos into “Touchable Memories” and even to help a blind mother “see” the ultrasound of her unborn child.
Unseen Art is currently running an IndieGoGo fundraiser, so if you like what they’re doing, consider chipping in!
More info: unseenart.org | IndieGoGo | Facebook | Twitter
The Unseen Art project wants to let the blind “see” paintings like the Mona Lisa for the first time
“It would be a revolution to get blind people going to art galleries, people hate them because there is nothing there to touch!” says designer Marc Dillon
He’s raising money to create an online repository where artists could submit their art in 3D formats, letting anyone with a 3D printer print it
If you like what they’re doing, you can help them with their IndieGoGo fundraiser
Watch Riikka feel the Mona Lisa for the first time:
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It's her veil, it just can't be translucent in this medium.
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I'm sorry but the restitution of Monalisa is not correct: the 3d reconstruction of the painting unveils that she had a defect on her nose, not perceived from a frontal view, but well detected from the software. monalisa3d...8313fb.jpg 
Some paintings seem to be in a shallower relief than others, so how can the third dimension be determined?
I almost cried tears of joy at this, because this means my mother who is partially blind can see famous works of art.
Give them some time. Maybe they'll fix that one too eventually. And in a way not to be confusing.
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See, Beauty is just skin deep. Like she says.She really doesn't Judge people by there faces. As we should all do.
It's her veil, it just can't be translucent in this medium.
Load More Replies... I'm sorry but the restitution of Monalisa is not correct: the 3d reconstruction of the painting unveils that she had a defect on her nose, not perceived from a frontal view, but well detected from the software. monalisa3d...8313fb.jpg
Some paintings seem to be in a shallower relief than others, so how can the third dimension be determined?
I almost cried tears of joy at this, because this means my mother who is partially blind can see famous works of art.
Give them some time. Maybe they'll fix that one too eventually. And in a way not to be confusing.
Load More Replies... See, Beauty is just skin deep. Like she says.She really doesn't Judge people by there faces. As we should all do.
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