Feb.1, 2014
Nick Ervinck is a sculptor of zeros and ones. In his work, new media and digital design are used to produce sculptures, installations, prints, drawings, and animated films – often using 3D printing to realize his digital designs in the analog world. A new exhibition of his work opens on Friday in The Hague at the museum Beelden aan Zee.
Animal, plant or mineral? According to experts, Ervinck's sculptures are all of these and none of these at the same time. Bioprinting is a clear inspiration in much of his work where complex organic forms are covered with a glossy, artificial skin.
His work is sci-fi and fantastical while also organic and recognizable. Ervinck gives his sculptures nonsense titles like SNIBURTAD or GARFINOOSWODA which convey the emotion of the work without any actual meaning.
Nick Ervinck is considered a vanguard of contemporary sculpture, but his work remains accessible as he mixes concepts and materials in ways that are beautiful and unexpected. But don't take our word for it – here are a few of Ervinck's 3D printed sculptures.
Luizaerc (2012)
This is sculpture is made using Fused deposition modeling (FDM) 3D printing technology and its dimensions are 42x28x19 cm. It is considered a small god statue and was inspired by research on the Jupiter columns – which are columns that expressed the religious beliefs of the Romans and were erected across Germania during the rule of the Roman empire.
In this sculpture and others, Ervinck uses the shapes and forms of archaeological findings like helmets, armor, busts, and columns to create something that looks like an ancient guard and a human heart at the same time. 3D printing helps him achieve in a 3D object the intricate forms and negative spaces which make this design visually effective.
Suchab (2012)
Like Luizaerc above, this sculpture is another in the series of small god statues. It was made using FDM 3D printing and its dimensions are 30x22x16 cm.
Sniburtad (2011-2012)
This sculpture was 3D printed using Selective laser sintering (SLS) and is 41x35x33 cm and exists both as a 3D print and a HD 3D animation video. The voluptuous women pictured in the art Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640) were the inspiration for this work in which the interior flesh of the 3D print bulges out of the boundaries of the fragile exoskeleton. 3D printing is used effectively in this work to present the 3D design in its full, grotesque and fascinating glory.
Elbeetad (2011-2012)
Like Sniburtad above, this sculpture is inspired by the voluptuous ladies pictured in the work of Peter Paul Rubens. It is made using FDM 3D printing and its dimensions are 30x22x22 cm.
Nikeyswoda (2011-2012)
This work seems to be made out of two pieces, but it is printed as one entity using SLS 3D printing with dimensions of 53x41x33cm. In this print the colors embrace and explode – creating a visual tension that is at once playful and uncomfortable as a struggle takes place for the psychical space. His work in this series draws inspiration from the blob architecture of Greg Lynn (1995) and visually explores ideas of the formless blob overpowering a fragile exoskeleton.
Garfinoswoda (2011-2012)
Nick Ervinck is a Belgian sculptor born in Roeselare in 1981. He has participated in many individual projects and group shows. In 2005 he received the Godecharle prize for Sculpture, in 2006 the Mais prize of the City Brussels and the prize for visual art of West-Flanders and in 2008 the Rodenbach fonds award. Recently he showed work at MOCA Shanghai, MARTA Herford, Kunstverein Ahlen, Koraalberg Antwerp, Zebrastraat Ghent, HISK Ghent, Odette Ostend, Superstories Hasselt, Brakke Grond Amsterdam, MAMA Rotterdam and Telic Art Exchange Los Angeles/Berlin.
If these works appealed to you, consider planning a visit to the Beelden aan Zee museum in The Hague where Ervick's work is displayed alongside that of fellow Belgian sculptor George Minne (1866-1941) from 31 January until 25 May.
Source & images: Nick Ervinck
Posted in 3D Printing Applications
Maybe you also like:
- Changemaker designs portable, 3D printed wheelchair ramp
- The Lux, a 3D-printed medium-format camera you can build yourself
- Personalized popsicles with the Icepop Generator
- 3D-printed prosthetic leg helps Dudley the disabled duck walk again
- 2 artists, 8 Bits and 3 Dimensions
- Wanna back up rare fossils or 5-million-year-old salmon? Get a 3D printer!
- You can now order a life-size, 3d printed your unborn fetus for $600
- 3D printing brings cool, low-cost energy solutions to the developing world
- Hospital used 3D printing to assist skull base tumor removal
- 3D Print Canal House project begins, to open to public in March
3Ders.org provides the latest news about 3D printing technology and 3D printers. We are now seven years old and have around 1.5 million unique visitors per month.
