sM    SuperMatter

PROJECT DATA

TYPE	SCULPTURE  FABRICATION
LOCATION	ANN ARBOR MICHIGAN, USA
CLIENT	SELF-INITIATED
DATE	2009
TEAM	DAVE PIGRAM WES McGEE PAULIS AUSTRINS ZACK JACOBSEN-WEAVER IAIN MAXWELL BRANDON CLIFFORD
EXHIBITIONS	VENICE ARCHITECTURE BIENNALE ITALY, 2012 DIGITAL PRIMITIVES, EXPERIMENTA DESIGN EXPO LISBON, 2009 WILD CHILD, BRIDGE GALLERY NEW YORK CITY, 2009 COMPOTEC TURIN, ITALY, 2009 LOT GALLERY LEXINGTON, 2009 ROUSE DETROIT, 555 GALLERY DETROIT, 2009

SuperMatter

Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA

Through the innovative adoption of 3D printing technologies, we extend the traditions of lost-wax casting to produce highly intricate and unique bronze forms. 

SuperMatter consists of two sculptural artefacts materialised in bronze and an infinite catalogue of algorithmically generated digital possibilities. The work is created via a custom written genotype formation algorithm written in VBScript. As such, although both sculptures share the same underlying DNA and indeed many formal similarities, their outward form is ultimately unique as a result of epigenetic differences. The two pieces are non-identical twins.

In realising the bronze sculptures, the highly intricate and detailed digital forms are first materialised using a high-resolution Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) 3D printer. Subsequently, these positive forms are converted using more traditional lost-wax techniques into molds ready for casting. The workflow offers a viable, if not still laborious, process for capturing the unique forms of each artefact. The plinths above which the objects are embedded, are also derived via the genetic code and materialised in laminated timber via CNC (Computer Numerically Controlled) milling.

The sculptures have been exhibited at the Bridge Gallery in New York (2009) and the Venice Architecture Biennale (2012).