Document Author: Corbett Lindsay

This paper presents Netsuke Hands On, a digital application developed by the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts to enhance public engagement with Japanese netsuke, miniature sculptural objects that are often difficult to appreciate in conventional museum displays. By integrating three-dimensional photogrammetry, interactive viewing tools, and mobile storytelling, the project allows visitors to rotate, zoom, and virtually handle the objects beyond the limitations of the glass vitrine. The platform also provides interpretative narratives about the cultural history, materiality, production techniques, circulation, and collecting of netsuke from Edo-period Japan to Western museum collections. The initiative proposes digital mediation as a way to challenge institutional untouchability, democratize access to artifacts, and create a more immersive and critical museum experience.