Multisensory panels to look in a different way at the major masterpieces of the art history
On the 19th of December 2023, the project ‘Oltre il vedere’ officially kicked off, marking a collaborative effort between the Department of Mechanical Engineering (DMEC), Associazione Nazionale Subvedenti (ANS), and the Pinacoteca Ambrosiana in Milan.
Driven by our commitment to social responsibility and with the desire to extend technical knowledge beyond traditional academic and corporate circuits, the project aims to create 3D multisensory panels, capable of giving back to individuals who are blind or visually impaired the great masterpieces of art history through the sense of touch and hearing.
A systemic effort carried out by DMEC, led by Professors Mario Covarrubias and Gisella Tomasini, Delegate for social responsibility, that becomes tangible thanks to the collaboration with the team of DescriVedendo project promoted by ANS, which, by means of precise guidelines and the fundamental DescriVedendo validation protocol, develops morphologic descriptions certified for the artworks accessibility.
More than a physical construction project, this collaboration, born within a project branded Cultura Meccanica, aims to create accessible guidelines that allow the reconstruction of tactile artworks. These guidelines are tailored for people with reduced or no vision, and the project's strength lies in the validation process shaped and refined over the years by the DescriVedendo project.
To celebrate the 160th anniversary of the foundation of Politecnico di Milano it was decided to start, at the suggestion of Prof. Federico Bucci, from one of the major masterpieces housed by Milan’s museums: the recently restored preparatory cartoon of the School of Athens by Raphael, housed in a dedicated room at the Pinacoteca Ambrosiana.
Specifically, the project delves into the detail of geometers, from which the University's logo is taken.
Additionally, two other prestigious works – Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio's Basket of Fruit and Leonardo da Vinci's Musician, both part of the collection of Pinacoteca Ambrosiana – will be subjects for in-depth study and experimentation. The goal is to enhance the overall experience, perception, and functionality of the operation.
With a view to social inclusion and empowerment, these multisensory panels will be created within the Virtual Prototyping and Augmented Reality Laboratory located at Polo Territoriale di Lecco, with the involvement of young students (aged 19 to 30) of the ASPOC association affected by autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and/or intellectual disabilities (ID).
