Mona Lisa Goes 3D For Blind Art-Lovers

Classical paintings could be recreated in 3D for blind and visually impaired art lovers if a crowdfunding campaign proves successful.

The Unseen Art project wants to use 3D printers to produce tactile versions of paintings. The plan is to not only make the 3D artworks available for galleries but also to share the print files as open source so that people can make their own copies.

The people behind the project note that most visually impaired people have heard about famous paintings but have never been able to experience them. While a 3D version wouldn’t be able to capture color or shade, it could give enough information about shape to allow people to get a better idea of the artwork.

So far the project has turned one painting, the Mona Lisa, into 3D and made scale replicas of both the face and the full painting available to donators at $30 and $100 respectively. Those with more cash to splash will be able to buy a full-size replica for $1,500. Donators can either have the model shipped to themselves or ask for it to be donated to a organization for blind and visually impaired people.

There aren’t any firm plans for which artworks will be added next. Though the campaign has a goal of $30,000, it’s flexible funding meaning all donators will receive their pledge reward even if the total falls short of the goal.

The details of donations suggest that if at least $10,000 is raised, it will be sufficient to produce an exhibition of 3D versions of at least five different artworks.

[The Unseen Art project]