If you are a sighted person with an internet connection, chances are you have seen Katsushika Hokusai’s famous painting Mount Fuji Seen Below a Wave at Kanagawa at some point. Despite the clunky title, it is one of the most recognized pieces of Japanese art ever.
Now, thanks to 3-D printing, a company called K’s Design Lab, and Tsutaya’s bookstore-cum-lounge property T-Site, visually impaired art lovers too will soon be able to see this work by literally getting their hands on it.
According to @unosuke, a representative for K’s Design on Twitter, the piece was actually a part of a collaboration with Dr. Susumu Oouchi of the National Institute of Special Needs Education.
The contoured version of the famous painting allows visually impaired people to feel what Hokusai’s work looks like. Meanwhile, the lovely color and texture of the mold is appealing even for sighted people.
昨日ツイートした触れる絵画。話題にしてもらって嬉しいんだけど『DMMすげぇ!』って感想とかコメントばかりで凹むよ。3Dデータが肝なんだぜ。作る結構大変なんだぜ。そこんとこ理解頼むよ。 pic.twitter.com/3Kqfi8ut8E
— 原雄司(DiGITAL ARTISAN) (@unosuke) December 10, 2014
Although partly due to advances in 3-D printing hardware, @unosuke points out that the hardest part is creating the data to feed the machine.
To create this piece, he first made a plaster model of the artwork. Then he scanned it and used a program called Freeform to prep the data, which involved reducing the number of polygons and troubleshooting issues with the thickness required, or in other words, keeping the final product smooth and lightweight. Finally, color was added and the piece could be printed.
北斎の視覚障害者のための絵画。「カラー3Dプリンターすげぇ!」ってコメント多し。実は石膏原型を3Dスキャン→FreeFormでデータを整え着色というデジタルツールを使った手技。軽量化のための薄肉化やポリゴン減算の苦労は理解されない。 pic.twitter.com/YScMJAjR8d
— 原雄司(DiGITAL ARTISAN) (@unosuke) December 10, 2014
The 3-D-printed version of The Great Wave is on display at the new T-Site in Fujisawa Sustainable Smart Town, Building 1 2F lounge, starting today. Check it out and feel free to cop a feel!
湘南T-SITE1号館の2Fラウンジに触れる絵画を納めてきました。12日からオープンとのこと。ぜひ! pic.twitter.com/6oh1QeHwha
— 原雄司(DiGITAL ARTISAN) (@unosuke) December 10, 2014
Source and images: @unosuke
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