Tactile Art, an inclusive multisensory experience by ETT within Spoke 1
ETT has developed the “Tactile Art” project as part of Spoke 1 of RAISE, an initiative that innovates the way art is experienced.
Designed to overcome visual barriers, the tactile painting uses Sense® technology to make artworks accessible to everyone, offering a multisensory and immersive experience.
Invisible touch sensors integrated into the surfaces allow visitors to explore the artwork with their hands, while audio content is automatically activated, narrating the story of the painting and enriching the sensory experience.
The project stems from in-depth research on inclusive understanding of two-dimensional art, with the aim of transforming every visit into a direct and personal encounter with the artwork. The creative process begins with converting a photograph of the painting into a raised three-dimensional model, where lines and details become shapes perceptible to the touch.
The three-dimensional prototype, produced at a 2:1 scale using 3D printing, ensures precision and fidelity of detail, while the integrated Sense® technology enables audio descriptions to be activated by lightly touching different sections of the painting, creating a true dialogue between the artwork and the visitor.
The experience thus becomes an immersive journey capable of stimulating touch, hearing, emotion, and memory, making art vivid and accessible to all.
Tactile Art demonstrates how technology can serve as a bridge between culture and inclusion: by overcoming traditional barriers, it expands the possibilities of artistic enjoyment and invites everyone to experience art in a direct and personal way.
The project was presented as a demo within the RAISE Village 2025 and at the recent Spoke 1 event “Real Inclusion: when the home becomes a museum and the museum becomes home again”, held at Palazzo Reale in Genoa, on the International Day of Persons with Disabilities.
Project manager Susanna Alloisio (ETT, Spoke 1) commented on the project: “Ultimately, the tactile painting is not just an object to be observed but an invitation to touch, listen, and discover. Through this achievement, ETT shows how technology can transform the encounter with art into a shared experience, open to all, where every visitor can perceive the artwork in a unique, sensorial, and deeply personal way.”
Cover image
Photo author (video frame): Marzio Cardellini (Bluframe)
Credits: RAISE
