Art

Tess Boissonneault June 16, 2020

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New exhibit features life-size 3D replica of ancient Buddhist Yungang Grottoes

The Zhejiang University Museum of Art and Archaeology (ZJUMAA) in China has inaugurated a new exhibit, called “Grace and Grandeur: Memories of Yungang Grottoes through a Century,” which is dedicated to the famous ancient Chinese Buddhist temple grottoes in the province of Shanxi. One of the highlights of the new…

Tess Boissonneault April 3, 2020

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MIT Media Lab and artist Thom Kubli explore floating 3D printed sculptures

Artist Thom Kubli has partnered with MIT Media Lab’s Tangible Media Group to create a 3D printer that defies gravity by producing ultra-lightweight floating sculptures. The innovative project is inspired by Kubli’s personal fascination with speculative machines, which are devices whose function has a metaphysical value rather than a utilitarian…

Tess Boissonneault March 26, 2020

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Harvard Semitic Museum 3D scans Ancient Egyptian sarcophagi

A team from the Harvard Semitic Museum has 3D scanned a series of three sarcophagi from Ancient Egypt, which are now viewable through 3D modeling platform SketchFab. The effort is part of a broader project that aims to digitize artifacts from Ancient Egyptian civilizations to be shared online for “study…

Tess Boissonneault March 17, 2020

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Amy Karle uses 3D printing in thought-provoking futurist art

To mark Women’s History month this March, 3D printing company HP is highlighting an ongoing collaboration with artist Amy Karle. Karle, who is known for her future-oriented projects, has adopted 3D printing as a medium, using the technology and its design capabilities to reimagine art and create boundary-pushing pieces. HP…

Davide Sher March 17, 2020

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Factum Arte digitally unveils life-size partly 3D printed replica of Raffaello’s tomb

The Covid-19 pandemic is forcing all social venues – including museums and exhibits – to close their doors to slow down the virus’ diffusion. For the Raffello exhibit, which marks the ​500-year anniversary of famous Italian painter’s death, Factum Arte created the spectacular starting point of the exhibition: a rematerialization…

Tess Boissonneault February 28, 2020

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Sketchfab introduces 3D model CC0 dedication for cultural institutions

3D content platform Sketchfab made an announcement this week which will see high-quality 3D scans and models of cultural artefacts become more accessible through its platform. In short, cultural organizations using Sketchfab now have the ability to dedicate their 3D models to the Public Domain using a Creative Commons Public…

Tess Boissonneault January 27, 2020

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Smithsonian Institution acquires full-color Mimaki 3D printer

The Smithsonian Institution has installed a full-color 3D printer from Mimaki at its Smithsonian Exhibits (SIE) studios in Landover, MD. The technology will be used by the Smithsonian to explore new exhibition practices for its various museums and offices. Made up of 19 expansive museums and galleries, nine research centers…

Tess Boissonneault January 23, 2020

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Recreating the voice of a 3,000-year-old mummy using 3D printing

We know that 3D printing is being used as a tool to help preserve artefacts and share cultural histories, but apparently it is also being used to preserve sound, so to speak. A team from the Royal Holloway University of London and the University of York have used 3D printing…

Tess Boissonneault January 14, 2020

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Will 3D printing play a role in the decolonization of museums?

In recent years, 3D scanning and printing have taken on increasingly important roles in the museal context, used by conservationists and archaeologists to digitally archive fragile or decaying artefacts. At Oxford University, for instance, historical instruments are being replicated using 3D printing, which allows them to be handled and even…