Cloud Series: 3D Printing and Scanning

The Cloud Series is a project involving 3D scanning and printing of objects. One side of an object is 3D scanned and then imported into a reverse engineering software which attempts to reconstruct the other side of the object. As the algorithm does not know what the object is it can only complete the object based on the edge geometry of the open hole. This process is unique to each object and generates very interesting shapes. Ideas that are being explored through this process are the nature of reproduction and representation in digital art, algorithmic and computational geometry, and glitch aesthetics. It started as a research project with a Canada Council new media grant to investigate 3d printing and scanning, to learn the different types of machines and software used in digital manufacturing. The goal is to push the machines and software to their limits, to the brink of failure. I have been using industrial 3d printing machines and reverse engineering software with a 3d scanner, these tools are made to be incredibly precise in measurement and output. I challenged the scanning software to complete incomplete scans, what occurs are interesting forms that could never be used in industry but have sort of a glitch aesthetic. When working with the 3d printers I can go in and manipulate the tool paths, stop the printer and add things, and also play with the support guides for the model. Things I am most interested in are the computational reproduction of an object, and the relationship between the artist and the machine in production. The Cloud Series was produced during this grant, I called it the Cloud Series because the process of waiting for the software to “fix” the scans reminded me of watching the clouds and getting excited when you could see a shape in them. Exhibited: Boston Cyberarts Gallery