Multiart App Translates Paintings into Music for Blind Users

A new Italian app, Multiart, translates visual artworks into music, aiming to make art accessible to blind and visually impaired children and adults. Developed by the Brescia-based artist collective The DouglaS MortimerS, the app uses a color-to-music algorithm trained on works by Leonardo da Vinci, van Gogh, and Picasso. Users can capture any image with their smartphone camera and receive a unique melody within seconds. The free beta version targets visually impaired users and educational institutions, while a premium version at €4.99/month offers unlimited use for artists and professionals. Over 50 artists contributed, including conductor Edmondo Mosé Savio. Project manager Paolo Baldassarre, who has developed 24 successful apps, leads the programming. The app is available on Apple and Android stores in 170 countries and 5 languages. A future shuffle mode will allow users to remix the music, e.g., hearing the Mona Lisa in rock, jazz, or funk versions.