3D printed sculptural replica of vincent van gogh's sunflowers
3D printed sculptural replica of vincent van gogh’s sunflowers
rob and nick carter, sunflowers, 2013 (detail); after vincent van gogh’s sunflowers, 1888; in collaboration with MPC
patinated bronze, edition of 12, 5 AP
image © rob and nick carter

 

 

 

husband and wife artists rob and nick carter have 3D printed a sculptural replica of vincent van gogh’s renowned sunflowers, pushing the boundaries of the technological medium by translating a two-dimensional painting into a tangible form. the structure was realized through a collaboration with MPC, an international visual experience and effects studio, who generated a digital adaptation of a flat artwork, rendered in 360° perspective. the team of artists and designers began by creating a base mesh — a computerized model — which typically lacks a great deal of fine detail, but is the first step in understanding the volume of a painting. balancing the overall form, and maintaining a visually attractive composition, van gogh’s signature brushstrokes are adapted as 3-dimensional layers. actual strokes replicated from the original painting are recreated using zbrush.

 

the printing process was done following extensive testing of methods and printers. the final digital file was printed to a resin material called ‘visijet-x’ using the high-end projet 3500, which prints to a tolerance of 16 microns. finally, the sculpture was cast in silicon bronze. the artwork is currently exhibited at the fine art society contemporary until november 2.

 

3D printed sculptural replica of vincent van gogh's sunflowers
rob and nick carter, sunflowers, 2013 (detail); after vincent van gogh’s sunflowers, 1888; in collaboration with MPC
patinated bronze, edition of 12, 5 AP
image © rob and nick carter

 

 

3D printed sculptural replica of vincent van gogh's sunflowers
rob and nick carter, sunflowers, 2013 (detail); after vincent van gogh’s sunflowers, 1888; in collaboration with MPC
patinated bronze, edition of 12, 5 AP
image © rob and nick carter

 

 

3D printed sculptural replica of vincent van gogh's sunflowers
rob and nick carter, sunflowers, 2013 (3D render); after vincent van gogh’s sunflowers, 1888; in collaboration with MPC
patinated bronze, edition of 12, 5 AP
image courtesy of MPC / © rob and nick carter

 

 

3D printed sculptural replica of vincent van gogh's sunflowers
rob and nick carter, sunflowers, 2013 (3D render); after vincent van gogh’s sunflowers, 1888; in collaboration with MPC
patinated bronze, edition of 12, 5 AP
image courtesy of MPC / © rob and nick carter

 

 

3D printed sculptural replica of vincent van gogh's sunflowers
rob and nick carter, sunflowers, 2013 (3D render); after vincent van gogh’s sunflowers, 1888; in collaboration with MPC
patinated bronze, edition of 12, 5 AP
image courtesy of MPC / © rob and nick carter

 

 

3D printed sculptural replica of vincent van gogh's sunflowers
rob and nick carter, sunflowers, 2013 (3D render); after vincent van gogh’s sunflowers, 1888; in collaboration with MPC
patinated bronze, edition of 12, 5 AP
image courtesy of MPC / © rob and nick carter

 

 

3D printed sculptural replica of vincent van gogh's sunflowers
rob and nick carter, sunflowers, 2013 (3D render); after vincent van gogh’s sunflowers, 1888; in collaboration with MPC
patinated bronze, edition of 12, 5 AP
image courtesy of MPC / © rob and nick carter

 

 

3D printed sculptural replica of vincent van gogh's sunflowers
rob and nick carter, sunflowers, 2013 (3D render); after vincent van gogh’s sunflowers, 1888; in collaboration with MPC
patinated bronze, edition of 12, 5 AP
image courtesy of MPC / © rob and nick carter

 

 

3D printed sculptural replica of vincent van gogh's sunflowers
rob and nick carter, sunflowers, 2013 (3D render); after vincent van gogh’s sunflowers, 1888; in collaboration with MPC
patinated bronze, edition of 12, 5 AP
image courtesy of MPC / © rob and nick carter