Resonant Irregularities: Sculpture Creation Through Automatic Changes Due to Machine Performance Limits

Abstract

This research explored a method of creating three-dimensional art based on the concept of creating sculptures that are automatically generated by a machine without human intention. This is similar to glitch art, which is a type of media art. An analog real sculpture is captured as digital data by a 3D scanner, and then a 3D printer is used to produce the output of a 3D sculpture. The result of this process is a sculpture that differs from the original. This is a kind of noise, an irregularity, a limitation of the machine’s performance, and a result that is not intended by humans. The data does not just deteriorate, but some information is lost and some new irregular information is added. This is an unintended abstraction and creation. By repeating this series of processes, I create new sculptures and explore the possibility of beauty that exists there. Further, we will reveal the characteristics of each sculpture using a total of four models (two existing sculptures, a Stanford bunny, and a primitive shape created with CAD), four different scanners, and two different 3D printers. We also tried out methods of intentionally adding noise and discussed the sculptures created by each method.