Imagine being able to grasp a piece of street art, thanks to a 3D model of the original mounted nearby and made specifically for the blind and visually impaired. We do not recall writing about such a development – and now that we have learned about it, we hope to hear of many more.

In October, following World Sight Day on the 14th, the first 3D models of murals for blind and visually impaired people were set up in Belgrade – led by Street Art Belgrade and a private commercial foundation. Following the first models’ installation in two locations, people were invited for a small street art tour like no other. Naturally, we have seen many sculptures and more three dimensional installations by artists over the last decades, but this is the first time you can witness that a direct translation of the painted work is created in dimensions that help others more fully appreciate the patterns, the relations, the forms at play with one another.

“Street art is considered the freest kind of art because, regardless of its passing character, it is on the streets that belong to everyone,” says Ljiljana Radošević, an art historian from the organization Street Art Belgrade.

“However, not everyone can see and experience it. In this way, we want to bring this contemporary art form closer to blind and visually impaired people and make that dynamic and creative world available to them.”

The two murals selected for the 3D models were done by the artist Weedzor, who’s been working on Belgrade’s streets since 2005 – cylindrical shapes that form the heads of a giraffe and a wolf. In addition to the 3D models placed at shoulder-level on the street, there is a description of the works in Braille. According to organizers, there are more 3D murals planned around the city.

“Any activity that contributes to the blind population having more things they can experience is very important,” says Nikola Djordjevic, president of the City Organization of the Blind in Belgrade in a press release for the program.

“This is not just an art exhibition, but this approach also shows respect for our population.”

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