【3D Printing Application】Ultimaker Integrates into Interactive Fashion Art Exhibition
The Cincinnati Art Museum is dedicated to promoting creative exhibitions and programs related to art, exploring the relationship between 3D printing and fashion by highlighting the work of designer Iris van Herpen. The museum recently acquired an Ultimaker printer to introduce visitors to the wide range of 3D printing applications and the value this technology brings when combining science and art in creative works.
Avant-Garde Fashion in the Art Palace
The Cincinnati Art Museum is one of the oldest visual arts institutions in the United States, hailed as the "Art Palace of the West" when it opened on May 17, 1886. Today, the museum spans over 200,000 square feet, houses 88 exhibition galleries, the Mary R. Schiff Library, a laboratory, and much more—welcoming approximately 200,000 visitors annually. Its encyclopedic collection includes nearly six million items, some dating back six thousand years.
This was a recent exhibition by Dutch fashion designer Iris van Herpen, who specializes in 3D printed clothing; in addition to creating two new collections each year, van Herpen has exhibited her work worldwide. The Transforming Fashion art exhibition at the Cincinnati Art Museum's Southwest Gallery ran from October 13, 2017, to January 7, 2018.
Iris van Herpen first incorporated 3D printing into her 2012 Crystallization collection and continues to combine different technologies in her apparel designs; while some of her garments are fully 3D printed, other accessories are 3D printed and then hand-finished. For Iris, this is the best way to realize her visual concepts, allowing fashion to flourish at the Cincinnati Art Museum.
Integrating Fashion Trends into Creative Technology
The exhibition's origins are impressive, a collaboration between the High Museum of Art in Atlanta and the Groninger Museum in the Netherlands. The project was co-curated by Sarah Schleuning of the Atlanta Museum and Mark Wilson and Sue-an van der Zijpp of the Groninger Museum; the Transforming Fashion art exhibition featured 45 dresses, 9 pairs of shoes, and various samples, allowing guests to interact with the materials used to create these garments.
As the exhibition is interactive, the museum also showcased a 3D printer to emphasize the process of creating such unique clothing; by integrating an Ultimaker 3 into the museum's program during Iris van Herpen's exhibition, Alex Otte Callon, coordinator of the Rosenthal Education Center (REC), aimed to highlight the immersive 3D printing experience and inspire visitors to think about its possibilities.
"The Rosenthal Education Center has a dedicated interactive space that changes twice a year, with themes covering permanent collections, special exhibitions, and elements of art and world cultures," says Alex. The 3D printer not only demonstrates how such garments are made simultaneously with the fashion itself, but also enhances the interactive element connecting art and education.
Bridging Science and Art
Although Iris van Herpen's work primarily targets a fashion-forward audience, Chief Curator of Fashion Arts and Textiles Cynthia Amneus expects the exhibition's technological elements to attract clients from related fields and a wide range of age groups. Cynthia anticipates attracting architects, engineers, and artists, as well as industries related to Iris, during the exhibition. She believes the flexibility of 3D printing makes it a versatile tool across various disciplines, as it offers insights into how it integrates into design and product development.
Unveiling the Mystery of 3D Printing
The Cincinnati Art Museum team was eager to personally use the Ultimaker printer for its debut exhibition. "From the moment we added this exhibition to our calendar, one of our top priorities was to install a 3D printer on-site. For the general public, 3D printing is still a mystery. It's crucial to demystify the process and educate visitors on how 3D printing is used," Cynthia explains.
The REC team had to cleverly highlight the thought and design elements involved in 3D printing, which, in Iris van Herpen's case, often combines 3D printed elements with traditional handcraft. They found that the Ultimaker 3 printer not only allowed for seamless setup but was also easy to use when explaining these methods. The Ultimaker Cura software also helped with slicing models and easily setting up objects, saving the museum time and overcoming learning barriers.
"I prefer the intuitive operation of the Ultimaker Cura software and the Ultimaker 3's ability to operate automatically and complete works; if I need to make adjustments or add printing materials, it gives me step-by-step instructions." Although Alex was nervous about setting up and using a 3D printer without prior experience, he was excited by the simple process of the Ultimaker 3. Thus, the REC team proceeded to plan an excellent exhibition to showcase Iris van Herpen's impressive innovative technology.
"Engineering, philosophy, and creativity meet in van Herpen's projects," says Cynthia. Through collaborations with Benthem Crouwel Architects and Rem D. Koolhaas, as well as clients like Beyoncé, Björk, and Tilda Swinton, van Herpen explores new methods while pushing fashion to conceptual and inspiring levels. The REC team hopes to encourage fashion-loving clients to explore the world of 3D printing, while those interested in Ultimaker will recognize the unique applications of 3D printing in design.
The Future of 3D Printing at the Cincinnati Art Museum
The Ultimaker 3 was housed in the education center during the Iris van Herpen exhibition and continues to support various projects to this day; in addition to visitors interacting with the printer at the museum, REC staff also use the Ultimaker 3 to print artworks, wearables, and other prints.
The team also collaborated with students from the University of Cincinnati's American Design program to develop themed prints for the Cincinnati Art Museum and create a model library for use. "This technology is not currently accessible to every demographic, so by making it available to the public in a free education center, people of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds can learn more about 3D printing and its broad uses," says Alex.
Now that the Iris van Herpen exhibition has concluded, Alex and her team are integrating the Ultimaker 3 into other projects around the museum; it will continue to be used for educational purposes and applied in exhibition design and art conservation departments. 3D printing continuously creates breakthroughs, and if you want to learn more about its possibilities, you can refer to our other articles; if you have a great idea but struggle with practical implementation, we also offer custom printing services, walking alongside you into an innovative future.
Original article: https://ultimaker.com/en/stories/52486-a-study-in-innovative-design-at-the-cincinnati-art-museum