3D designers hit SA by storm
South Africa is at the forefront of creative and digital development.
International artists from the Agents of the 3D Revolution came together at the University of Johannesburg’s (UJ) FADA gallery at the Bunting Road Campus on 6 July to mark the beginning of their exhibition, which showcases their 3D printed design, artwork and technology. The exhibition’s aim is to promote cross-disciplinary interaction and collaboration amongst students, entrepreneurs and the industry’s involved individuals.
Dr Michaella Janse van Vuuren, one of the artists and organiser of the exhibition, said she wanted to bring international artists to the country so South Africa could become a leader in digital content creations. “America and China are investing huge amounts of money in 3D designing. The process is digital designing and 3D printing.”
The 3D revolution has removed barriers in manufacturing. Gone are the days of using big machines. Now there are 3D printers that do the work. By using the software which can be downloaded online, one can make an engineering prototype.
UK artist Lionel Dean said the excitement around this technology is that it opens doors to new methods and ideas behind one’s practice. “I combine design with computer scripts so that every time I create an artwork I make a unique one.
The exhibition is great to network with the practitioners, artists and designers.” According to Professor Keith Brown, an artist as well as the director of Art & Digital Technologies at Manchester Metropolitan University, the most interesting part is reversing the usual and exploring the virtual environment.
“It enables us to make discoveries about objects that cannot be created in a traditional way using traditional methods. We can carve objects that look like they are passing through each other, there is no surface resistance.” The gallery is open from Monday to Saturday from 10am to 5pm until 22 July.
Details: www.agentsofthe3drevolution.com
