Stratasys Shows Polyjet 3D Printed Art at “Printing the World | Imprimer le Monde” Exhibit in Paris

The “Printing the World | Imprimer le Monde,” exhibit, curated by Marie-Ange Brayer, can be seen in Gallery 4 at the world famous Centre Pompidou in Paris, from March 15th to June 19th 2017. This  is not the first time Stratasys polyjet 3D printed art is displayed at Centre Pompidou, as celeb designer Neri Oxman has exhibited a number of complex art pieces in dedicated exhibits in the past

The Stratasys 3D printed collections include ‘Vespers’ by Neri Oxman, “BC-AD” by Dov Ganchrow and Ami Drach, and ‘Descendants’ by Daniel Widrig. The museum’s upcoming exhibition brings together artists, designers and architects who pioneer the use of 3D printing as an analytical and experimental tool. “Printing the World | Imprimer le Monde” is part of the wider Mutations| Creations platform at the Centre Pompidou, focusing on art, science and innovation. Visitors are invited to explore the influence 3D printing has on production and how it has integrated into design, artwork, architecture and science.

“Digital technologies such as 3D printing have revolutionized design and production, transforming the practice of architects, designers and artists. Nevertheless, the origins of 3D design can be traced as far back as the late 19th century with the invention of the photo-sculpture – the first attempt at 3D photographic reproduction. As innovators continued to pioneer 3D production throughout the ages, today designers and architects work on programming languages and are directly involved in production.” Naomi Kaempfer, Creative Director of Art Fashion Design at Stratasys.

In its selection of over 30 leading artists, “Printing the World | Imprimer le Monde” reveals the transformation of forms within a ‘digital materiality’ that has given birth to a new typology of objects having 3D printing in common.

“Descendants”

With this collection, Widrig addresses the increasing possibility of superior artificial intelligence and technological singularity, and how future synthetic bodies might look and feel. Overlapping high resolution 3D scans of male and female figures with intricate digital compositions, the ‘humanoid’ figures were 3D printed with Stratasys multi-color, multi-material 3D printing. Stratasys unique 3D printing technology combines rigid and soft materials, allowing Widrig to achieve both human and futuristic structures in life-size human scale. According to Widrig, with advanced technologies such as 3D printing already facilitating the customization and enhancement of the human form, the concept of a post-human era of non-biological intelligence is now much more conceivable.

“Vespers”

Showcasing at the Centre Pompidou exhibition are three of Neri Oxman’s breakthrough 3D printed “Vespers” death masks which debuted at the London Design Museum in November 2016. Oxman’s exploratory 3D printed death masks are part of Stratasys’ “The New Ancient” collection and uniquely emulate the resolution and complexity found in nature. Divided into three sub-series, entitled “Past,” “Present” and “Future,” one mask from each sub-series will be visible to visitors at the Pompidou. Combining designs of past civilizations with design processes and capabilities of the modern world, the death masks leverage Stratasys’ unique PolyJet 3D printing technology with full-color and transparent multi-material capabilities, matching for the first-time the variety and nuance of ancient crafts. The third death mask, from the subseries “Future,” combines synthetic biology and advanced Stratasys 3D printing to host microorganisms within the mask.

“BC – AD”

By blending technologies from the farthest ends of human existence, Ganchrow and Drach showcase how simple designs powered by clever thinking can translate into beautiful, functional, and history-changing objects. The “BC – AD” collection features a series of stone-age tools made of flint stone, which have been redesigned and modernized with the use of Stratasys high-resolution PolyJet 3D printing. While the flint stone tools are formed through the pre-historic method of ‘knapping’ – flint stones striking against one another to create a new form – the scanned pieces were then given 3D printed axe handle, fitting the contours and shape of the flint stone with absolute precision.

“We are proud to be part of ‘Printing the World’ at the Pompidou, celebrating the multitude of possibilities achievable within art and design with 3D printing. The exhibition allows the audience to re-evaluate the role of artist/creator, and opens up new ways of thinking when it comes to production. We encourage visitors to explore our diverse 3D printed collaborations on display and share our excitement over the significance of the technology to disrupt traditional design.” Naomi Kaempfer.