The goal of the “Art in Passing” project, implemented by Street Art Belgrade and the Telenor Foundation, is to bring street art closer to blind and partially sighted people through the installation of models made with 3D technology.
The first models were installed at two locations in Vračar, on the occasion of October 15, which is celebrated throughout the world as the Day of the Blind and Visually Impaired.
Mural models are an innovative approach to presenting street art and graffiti, because by creating works of street art in 3D technology, blind and partially sighted people are able to get to know the works of art on the streets of Belgrade through touch.
“Street art is considered the freest form of art, because regardless of its transitory character, it is on the streets that belong to everyone. However, not everyone can see and experience it. In this way, we want to bring this direction of contemporary art closer to blind and partially sighted people and let’s make that dynamic and creative world available to them” said Ljiljana Radošević, art historian.
“The City Organization of the Blind in Belgrade gathers around 2,000 blind and partially sighted people from the territory of all Belgrade municipalities. Therefore, every activity that contributes to the blind population having more things to experience is very important. This is not just an artistic display, but this approach respects our population. Within the works of art, there are also descriptions in Braille, which will bring our script closer to citizens who do not have vision problems” said Nikola Đorđević, president of the Belgrade City Organization for the Blind.
“The project ‘Art in Passing’ brings street art closer to blind and partially sighted people in an innovative and creative way. Art is an expression of freedom, it brings people together, erases borders and obstacles. It has a great role in creating a more inclusive and tolerant environment, to which the Telenor Foundation has been committed since from the very beginning. In this way, we break down another barrier and take a step towards a better society” said Milica Begenišić, manager of the Telenor Foundation.
For the first models, the works of the Belgrade artist Weedzor, who has been present on the streets of Belgrade since 2005 and is known, among other things, for his large-scale works, were selected. The models were made for murals that are recognizable by the elements of cylindrical shapes that form the structure of animal heads – Giraffe and Wolf. Along with the 3D models, there is also a description of the works in Braille, as well as QR codes that lead to a website with more information about the project. Guided tours will be continuously organized for all interested citizens, and the plan is to install 3D murals in several locations in Belgrade.
In Serbia, there are about 12,000 blind and partially sighted people who need support in realizing their rights, as well as integration into all social flows and daily activities, and cultural life and art are an integral and important part of that.
The author of the project is the Street Art Belgrade organization, whose members have been researching, documenting and popularizing street art and graffiti for over two decades.
The project “Art in Passing” is implemented as part of the Telenor Foundation competition “Imagine Everything”, with the support of the Ministry of Culture and Information and the Austrian Cultural Forum. Partners in the project are Božidarac and the city organization of the blind in Belgrade. Voxellab, a 3D technology company, has produced 3D models of murals for the blind and partially sighted.
