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Culture

3D printed version of Klimt’s ‘The Kiss’ to give visually impaired a feel for artwork

Austrian gallery unveils 3D graphic of famous painting and encourages the blind and visually impaired to run their fingers over it

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From left: Reiner Delgado (Blind Association), Belvedere museum manager Agnes Husslein-Arco and Christian Helmenstein (GF Economica) with the tactile graphic of Gustav Klimt’s ‘Kiss’ in front of the original artwork. Photo: AFP
Agence France-Presse

Like most artworks in galleries worldwide, visitors haven’t been allowed to touch Gustav Klimt’s The Kiss at the Belvedere museum in Vienna – until now.

This month a special 3D version of the masterpiece was unveiled, aimed at enabling the visually impaired to enjoy the work by running their fingers over it.

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The “interactive tactile relief”, made using a 3D printer, makes it possible to touch details of the 1907-08 original, says the Belvedere.

Klimt (1862-1918) made The Kiss, depicting a couple embracing and enveloped in colourful robes, using oil paints and gold leaf during his “Golden Period”.

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The new reproduction, which is much smaller than the original, also has sensors that when touched trigger audio commentary about the work.

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