Dec.26, 2013
Two talented artists, Masters & Munn, a.k.a. André Masters and his partner, CJ Munn, created a beautiful, mythical "Icarus Had a Sister" using a hybrid of traditional sculptural techniques and state-of-the-art digital modeling and 3D printing.
For 18 years, Masters and Munn have built a strong reputation in the fields of sculpture, lifecasting and model making. Nine years ago, André had a vision to create a work of art based on the engaging premise, "what if the mythical Icarus had a sister?"
Based upon the legend of Icarus, who made wings held together with wax but fell to his death after flying too close to the sun, 'Icarus had a Sister' transcends the traditional mythology to create a new legend for the 21st century. Icarus' sister was smarter, savvier and altogether more fabulous than her somewhat naive brother, creating her wings from the lightest and finest metal feathers. Her strong, yet relaxed and confident pose is incredibly sexy without being in any way base or lewd, mirroring the very best of classical sculpture and mythology and utilising some of the most state of the art technology in her creation.
The first designs of the life size winged lady about to embark on her maiden flight were created by André in 2004, waiting all these years for the right technology to be developed to make the creation of the wings possible to the high standard they envisioned for the sculpture. Earlier this year, the duo teamed up with a 3d printing company called Industrial Plastic Fabrications Ltd (IPF) to create metallic feathers for the sculpture.
As CJ describes it, 'I used to be so afraid we would be like Stepford Wives - replaced by machines and people who reproduce what we do with the click of a button. But it's much more like being the Million Dollar Man, and waking up with new super powers you can use for creative purposes. Artistically, we are living in such exciting times and the more we explore these new skills, the more imaginative ideas we have. We can't wait to see where it takes us next!'
Andre Masters arranging more than 200 feathers 3D printed on an Objet Connex multi-material 3D Printer. Image credit: Stratasys
Each feather had to look unique with its own individual flaws and characteristics. Using Objet Connex multi-material 3D Printers from Stratasys, IPF produced the feathers on a variety of materials – rigid VeroWhitePlus, VeroClear and VeroBlackPlus at 30 micron accuracy. The feathers were then coated in a veneer of copper and then hand-patinated by the artists to bring the beauty of real verdigris to the feather tips.
Feather tests printed in Vero plastic (30 micron layers)
Masters & Munn say, "We have lost almost no detail from the original design whatsoever. It was so beautiful to work with and we can hand patinate it just as you would a real bronzed or copper piece…We've got incredible detail from the 3D printing; this is something that was simply not possible from traditional sculptural techniques."
The stunning "Icarus Had a Sister" has won the "Rising Star" award at the 2013 3D Printshow. Watch the video below:
via Stratasys
Posted in 3D Printing Applications
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Absolutely stunning!!! Do you do this in larger prints say 160cm x 80cm janet.corkill@virgin.net
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