3D PRIME X Valeria Abendroth

3D PRIME

With the objective of improving the learning process and training of medical students and professionals, Inova de, create it real, the University of Heidelberg and University of tübingen have started a project to produce realistic and accurate 3d models of a particular patient funded within the framework of the Eurostars programme. To address this problem, the consortium proposes itself to produce the next level of 3D printing services for medical training and education: • 3D printed organ models that are realistic, affordable, conform to the actual patient images and at the hands of every medical student. • These anatomically correct models will have the same haptic characteristics as real organs, enabling a better learning experience.

Embryonic

The rapprochement between art and technology and the artistic exploration of new applications are a key factor in understanding the socially increasingly relevant dimensions of new technologies and the future. The artwork will be a three-dimensional, interactive room installation that represents a developmental laboratory, including biomorphic sculptures that seem to be alive and growing. These sculptures are being developed in cooperation with the development team of 3D Technique and the artist. The sculptures have a very haptic surface structure, shape and colours that automatically attract them to see closer, touch and feel. Visitors can move like in another dimension, surrounded by unknown shapes and objects that create a special atmosphere. He can be in the direct contact with the technology and art.The project aims to create a sophisticated installation that will capture all the senses and open the door between the digital world and the real world through the collaboration of technology and art. These connections in the installation create a whole new organism, just as 3D technology makes it possible to create things that did not exist before.

Valeria Abendroth

Valeria emigrated from Russia to Germany in the´90s. Finished school degree and job training as a dental technician. After working 5 years full time as a dental technician she quitted the job and went to study fine arts. The experience as a dental technician gave her a special perspective on the processing and use of materials in the art context. Her art with sculptures, installations and video art is reflected in themes about human being, traditions and modernity, and have a social and societal meaning. Now she is moving around the world, doing exhibitions and residencies.

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The art installation «Embryonic» mimics a medical development laboratory, a walkable space where reality and fiction come together. 3D-printed body organs as well as biomorphic art objects created from the artist are part of the work. Visitors are invited to sensually capture this clinically artificial space with the sense of touch, visual sense and sense of smell.

The artist aims to create an impulse and to establish awareness for the current development and transformation of health and life sciences. In this project the technology development process is included into the art space and tells a story about the possible materiality of the future body and creation. The collaboration during the residency was with the companies Inova DE and Create it REAL, they are developing 3D printing technology to produce silicone replicas of real organs in the European Project 3D PRIME. The company Inova is responsible for modeling and creating the virtual organs. The company Create it REAL is responsible for the hardware development related to the silicone mixture and control system. During the residency period Valeria was able to observe the ongoing development of the technology partners, she had the access and opportunity to work with the corresponding 3D printing technology and to use it for her artistic concept.

Residency mid-term video

Form the tech partners side, Inova was responsible for modeling and creating the virtual organs, developing software that works with real patient files, CT scans. Then they were converted into 3d models. Create it REAL was responsible for the hardware development related to the silicone mixture and control system, it had a range of 3D printers available. The collaboration with the artist brought new ideas on how to address certain challenges. Tech partners were pushed in this challenge to create solutions that have a development impact in their project and the potential to create a new product. It was also possible to test how well the tools handle themselves in the hands of not-experienced users. This usability testing is necessary to create new approaches to facilitate the reach of this technology across society. The collaboration between the artist and the partner Create it REAL inspired the tech partner’s team. They were able to visualize the future of the technology they were working on. Visualizing the future of medicine through the installation made things much more concrete. Create it REAL also learned that presentation is key for people to understand and appreciate the technology.

The collaboration of artists with technical development teams opens a new range of possibilities and creates new challenges. Requests from the artist to create certain elements challenged the team to address not foreseen printing possibilities and to develop their technology further, the artist also learned how to handle new materials and to envision new possibilities towards representations and story-telling possibilities.

Interview with Valeria Abendroth at CENTQUATRE-Paris during the STARTS Residencies Days 2020

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