3D reconstruction of ‘Jointed Doll’ by Josef Hartwig and Oskar Schlemmer (1923)

Walters, Peter; Eisenmann, Markus; Peebles, E

Abstract

This output brings together research in the visual arts and new fabrication technologies. The project focuses on the reconstruction by 3D printing of the ‘Jointed Doll’ (1923) originally designed and made at the Bauhaus in Weimar by Josef Hartwig and Oskar Schlemmer. Bauhaus artists and designers sought to creatively engage with the new industrial technologies of their own age. Similarly, in the reconstruction of the doll, the authors have exploited what commentators have described as the manufacturing technologies of the next industrial revolution (The Economist, 21.4.2012). Others have demonstrated that 3D printing can be employed to produce replicas of museum and gallery artefacts, potentially contributing to the accessibility of rare, valuable and delicate artefacts. However, a further debate on the future implications of 3D printing focuses on issues of intellectual property, when digital descriptions of physical objects can be distributed widely via the internet, and can be downloaded and built at home using a personal 3D printer. Concerning the production of artworks in this technological context, this project poses the following question: Could traditional notions of artistic authorship, and of authorised and counterfeit reproduction, become blurred by technological advances that enable the widespread digital fabrication of physical artefacts? A 3D CAD model of the doll was created based on measured drawings taken from the original doll. The replica doll was fabricated by 3D printing, using the Z-Corp colour powder-binder 3D printing process. A series of 3D printing trials were undertaken to establish a palette of colours for the replica doll which closely matched those of the original. The replica doll was produced as an edition of four. The essay ‘Art in the New Machine Age’ accompanies the replica artefacts, describing the process of reconstruction and positions the work in an historical and technological context. The 4 replica dolls will be exhibited as part of the “STURTEVANT and SECOND EDITIONS” show at Chelsea Space 22/01/13- 09/03/2013 and there is an invited essay by the authors in publication accompanying the exhibition: Art in the New Machine Age.

Citation

Walters, P., Eisenmann, M., & Peebles, E. 3D reconstruction of ‘Jointed Doll’ by Josef Hartwig and Oskar Schlemmer (1923)

• Physical Artefact Type: Artefact
• Keywords: 3D print, colour, Bauhaus, replicas of artefacts, artistic authorship
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/940693
• Publisher URL: http://www.chelseaspace.org/future.html
• Related Public URLs: http://www.bauhaus.de/index+M52087573ab0.html