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VRVis creates tactile relief for UN mural "Woman with Dove"

A 50 x 20 meter mural adorns the UN building in Vienna. VRVis developed a barrier-free information board for the painting "Woman with a Deaf Person", which combines a tactile relief, a schematic layered image and information in Braille. This information board is a permanent installation beneath the artwork and makes the original work accessible to blind and visually impaired people.

Two photos side by side. The one on the left shows the mural "Woman with Dove" on one of the UN towers in Vienna as well as the tactile relief, which makes the artwork accessible to blind and visually impaired people through Braille and translates the artwork into a tangible 2.5D relief. The picture on the right shows a close-up of the tactile relief.
The mural "Woman with Dove" by Fintan Magee adorns one of the towers of the Vienna International Center, the headquarters of the United Nations in Vienna. The tactile relief by VRVis is located directly at the entrance to the UN, making the artwork accessible to blind and visually impaired visitors.
Close-up of the barrier-free information board for the mural "Woman with Dove" by Fintan Magee, a man's hand rests on the board and reads the Braille.
The barrier-free information board consists of three main parts: a schematic layered representation of the artwork (left), the information text about the project and the partners in Braille and blackletter (center) and a tactile relief of the artwork "Woman with Deaf" by Fintan Magee (right).
Close-up of the tactile relief of "Woman with Dove".
The close-up of the layered image shows the fine details that make it easier to experience the artwork in its many facets: the modeling and texturing of the dove and the woman's body. In the original artwork, the woman is behind a pane of glass, which has also been tactilely modeled here.
VRVis researcher Andreas Reichinger holds a tactile relief of "Woman with Dove" in his hands.
VRVis researcher Andreas Reichinger is an expert in inclusive digitization. He is holding the tactile relief, which will be exhibited at the UN in addition to the mural "Woman with Dove" by Fintan Magee.
The UN building in Vienna, focus on an exterior wall where a mural is being created.
The mural "Woman with Dove" during its creation on the UN building in Vienna.
Two photos side by side. The one on the left shows the mural "Woman with Dove" on one of the UN towers in Vienna as well as the tactile relief, which makes the artwork accessible to blind and visually impaired people through Braille and translates the artwork into a tangible 2.5D relief. The picture on the right shows a close-up of the tactile relief.
Close-up of the barrier-free information board for the mural "Woman with Dove" by Fintan Magee, a man's hand rests on the board and reads the Braille.
Close-up of the tactile relief of "Woman with Dove".
VRVis researcher Andreas Reichinger holds a tactile relief of "Woman with Dove" in his hands.
The UN building in Vienna, focus on an exterior wall where a mural is being created.

The mural "Woman with Dove - Shaping Our Common Future" has adorns the United Nations building in Vienna since the end of June 2024. It is a unique art project by Australian artist Fintan Magee, which, measuring 50 x 20 meters, adorns the outer wall of one of the UN towers. The mural covers an area of 1000m² and can be seen from quite a distance with the naked eye. Directly below the mural is an information board that makes the artwork accessible in several ways. This information panel was created by VRVis researcher Andreas Reichinger, who is the world's leading expert in inclusive digitization. The entire art project is a collaboration between the UN, the Calle Libre Street Art Festival, the Zero Project Foundation, Palfinger and VRVis.

    Expert for inclusive digitalization

    Dipl.-Ing.(FH) Andreas Reichinger

    Senior Research Engineer, Multiple Senses

    reichinger(at)vrvis.at +43 1 908 98 92

    Press Contact

    Mag.a Daniela Drobna, BA

    Communication & PR

    drobna(at)vrvis.at +43 1 908 98 92 207
    The UN building in Vienna: the very large mural "Woman with Dove" on one of the towers and the information board showing the tactile relief of the artwork.
    The mural "Woman with Dove" by Fintan Magee shows the fragility of peace and the human-centered work of the UN. It adorns one of the UN towers in Vienna. A tactile relief by VRVis is installed directly within sight and at the entrance to the Vienna International Center, making the artwork accessible to blind and visually impaired people: through Braille and a tactile 2.5D relief of the original artwork.

    The information panel consists of several parts and thus offers a variety of barrier-free options for all people. A schematic layered representation of the artwork focuses on the three essential elements of the painting: the woman, the pigeon and the slightly distorted view of these two through a pane of glass. These three elements are emphasized by fine gradations in height, just as the effect of the pane of glass has been translated into tactile points of contact. A tactile relief conveys the original painting in a tangible 2.5D version, which makes the painting accessible for blind and visually impaired people in particular. The information text, which describes the background of the project, the collaboration partners and the artist's intention, is included in Braille and blackletter.

    With this information panel for accessible art experiences, VRVis supports the work of the UN and the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The SDGs support more inclusion and equitable access to education as well as culture as key goals.

    More information

    Video documenting the development of the mural

    By playing this video, YouTube may save personal data such as your IP address.

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