The invention of printing and its many iterations throughout history—from the first printing press, to home consumption of digital printers, to the invention of the edible printer–has revolutionized human communication time and time again. And 3D printing has undoubtedly picked up the mantle to continue this trend, changing the way art, architecture, and science interact and are produced forever.
3D printing promises medical marvels, but it also provides ample opportunity for artists of all types to innovate and create pieces that would have been previously unthinkable. Here are 4 incredible ways in which 3D printing is changing the art world—forever.
Prosthetics
Prosthetic limbs open up a world of opportunity for amputees. 3D printed prosthetics fuse art and biomedical engineering together to create realistic and usable prosthetics for those who need them. Though this technology has as long as 3D printers have been around, lower barriers to entry in the 3D printing world promise to bring prices lower. Whereas even a few years ago, 3D printed prostheses could cost the wearer tens of thousands of dollars, there is an expectation that the popularization of 3D printing will bring prices to less than a thousand dollars in the near future.
Architecture
As the world of 3D printing expands, so do the possibilities. In 2018, Dutch architects 3D printed a bridge made entirely of steel—a material once thought unworkable by most 3D printers. 3D printing promises to open up entirely new avenues to architects and designers who no longer will be constrained by the shapes allowed by their current design programs. In Dubai, there is a 2,000 square foot, fully functional office building printed entirely by a 20 foot tall 3D printer. This structure is the first of its kind to be put into use by a community.
Materials
The feats made possible by 3D printing are constantly evolving. Artists and engineers are working with materials like metal and steel to create structures that heretofore would have been impossible. Take Bathsheba Sculpture, for instance, an artist studio specializing in 3D printing steel into inconceivably smooth, rounded shapes that curve and twist in ways thought impossible for steel.
3D printing has also made possible the faithful imitation of organic materials. Artists Rob and Nick Carter have 3D printed bronze into lifelike tree stumps able to fool the most critical of observers into thinking they were standing in an actual forest. The artists created an entire nature panorama with their 3D printed items, a scene convincing enough that it could have been pulled from your nearest park.
And the recreation does not end there. 3D printing also allows for the detailed recreation of human skin and hair, as well as perfect replications of human faces. Lorna Barnshaw is a 3D printer who has created disturbingly accurate 3D printed versions of real people. In some cases, she has 3D printed the whole of their bodies. The pieces faithful imitation of human life down to the delicate hair between a man’s eyebrows is truly stunning.
Fashion
3D printing has opened up a world of opportunity for customizable fashion. Whereas custom fashion would usually cost buyers an arm and a leg before the advent of 3D printing, the ease of access and wide availability of this technology has made custom fashion affordable. There is an entire subset of designers who specialize in custom, 3D printed clothing.
One designer, Danit Peleg, offers 3D custom printed jackets in the $1,500 range. While $1,500 is not exactly attainable with every budget, the buyer is receiving a custom fitted, one of a kind piece. Once again, it is expected that further popularization of the technology will continue lowering prices.
In that same vein, 3D printed fashion companies are looking to make high fashion pieces durable and accessible to the average consumer. From fully customizable shoes made from comfortable, enduring materials to accessories with intricate details only made possible to this technology, expect something to appeal for everyone in the coming years.
The Future
3D printing has the power to revolutionize almost every way we live. From the way we conceive and consume art, to the way we buy clothes, and to the very roads we use to get around, 3D printing will change it all in one form or another. As with any burgeoning technology, excitement is running high, and it is easy to get ahead of ourselves when thinking about the possibilities. But 3D printing seems like it is here to stay. A technological achievement unlike any other, 3D printing is truly a constantly evolving art form that will touch all of our lives for the better.