caspar berger uses 3D printer to produce skeletal self portraits‘skeleton’ by  caspar berger’image © erik and petra hesmerg

 

 

 

conceived with advanced CT scanning technology, dutch sculptor caspar berger has developed a pilot series of skeletal self portraits in his latest ongoing project ‘skeleton’. using a 3D printer to produce precise reproductions of parts of his skeleton, the developments known as ‘skeleton / self-portrait 20’ and ‘skeleton / self-portrait 21’, incorporate the  artist’s upper arm bone cast in gold and a bronze forensic reconstruction of his face based on the copy of his skull. the aim of the project is to make the invisible tangible in three dimensions – which can be seen through the scans, and physically interpreted as symbols of what remains of us after death.

caspar berger uses 3D printer to produce skeletal self portraitsprocessfrom left to right: 3D printed skull, moulding the skull with silicon image © erik and petra hesmerg 

caspar berger uses 3D printer to produce skeletal self portraitsprocessfrom left to right: mapping the silicon, finalized mould before bronze castingimage © erik and petra hesmerg 

caspar berger uses 3D printer to produce skeletal self portraitsafter the skull, the first 3D prints arrived

caspar berger uses 3D printer to produce skeletal self portraitswax bones

caspar berger uses 3D printer to produce skeletal self portraits‘skeleton/selfportrait 21’ by caspar berger image © erik and petra hesmerg

caspar berger uses 3D printer to produce skeletal self portraits‘skeleton/selfportrait 20’ cast in gold at museum vrolik, amsterdam image © erik and petra hesmerg 

caspar berger uses 3D printer to produce skeletal self portraits‘skeleton/selfportrait 20’ image © erik and petra hesmerg 

caspar berger uses 3D printer to produce skeletal self portraitsdetail image © erik and petra hesmerg 

  

‘skeleton – prologue’video courtesy caspar berger