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Mar. 17, 2015 | By Alec

Of course objects can hold emotions. All of us will have objects lying around that have little monetary value, but are actually personal treasures that remind us of important events, achievements and loves ones. But can you call those objects the embodiments of those emotions? Brazilian designer and architect Guto Requena has tried to answer that question through 3D printing in the Love Project, which he has been working on since August 2014.

If you’re from Brazil, you might have heard of Requena, who is known as the nation’s most promising modern architect. Having won various prizes for his innovative constructions, he is the man behind some of the most unique buildings in Brazil, including the national headquarters of Google and Walmart. The love project, however, took him into an entirely different direction. As he said at the time: ‘[this project] is a study in design, science and technology that captures the emotions people feel in relating personal love stories and transforms them into everyday objects. The project suggests a future in which unique products will bear personal histories in ways that encourage long life cycles, thus inherently combining deeply meaningful works with sustainable design.'

Combining those emotions with technology, participants in the Love Project were hooked into computers through various sensors that measure the speed of their heartbeats and fluctuations in their voices and brain activity. This way, physical and emotional responses were measured while the subjects recount their love stories and feelings.

All the data generated in this way has been subsequently transformed into digital 3D shapes using especially designed software, which have since been 3D printed with the help of Brazilian 3D printing provider AKAD. While the first round of experiments focused on vase-like structures, Requena and his team have now focused on smaller and more tangible, personal tokens of love for the second round of this project. The result is an inspiring collection of 53 mandalas that represent the experiences of love of as many São Paulo residents. Each is, of course, unique. The various 3D prints have been made in ABS plastic, but also in polyamide, ceramic or metal.

Of course, you can wonder to what extent these creations truly reflect your feelings. After all, every type of data can be transformed into shapes. Can you rediscover the emotions or love stories that have shaped your mandala? Nonetheless, the 'Love Project' is a very interesting experiment that combines emotions and technology to create thought-provoking art. It is also, undeniably, very romantic. 

 

Posted in 3D Printing Applications

 

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