Continuum3 Collection Reflects 3D Printing’s Artistic Potential

Conceptual artist and designer John Briscella is a well-rounded individual, to say the least. He has degrees in science, art, industrial design and urban planning, and his work reflects his varied interests and knowledge. He’s also the former Director of Projects for MakerBot, so he knows 3D printing, and it shows in much of his art. His latest collection, Continuum³, is an assortment of 3D printed, electroplated chairs that demonstrate the capabilities of the technology as well as being beautiful to look at.

The silvery chairs were 3D printed using SLA/DLP technology and appear almost to be made of water, flowing and seamless. There’s something very otherworldly about them, and that was intended – one of the chairs, titled “Radar,” is described as being “inspired by the systems that communicate beyond.”

“The collection was built as a progression,” Briscella tells 3DPrint.com. “Radar is the latest creation and the design is an original on a standard base. As for other pieces, the collection has a linear movement. Identifying the epitomes of the 20th century modern design era, then translating them through reinterpretations with emerging production techniques. The repetitive structure aims at allowing the audience to understand the technological capability of 3D printing on a mass produced object.”

The collection nods to Modernism and its tendency to turn functional objects like furniture into works of art, but it’s a, well, modern take on Modernism, using the latest technology to show how sculptural, customized pieces can be fabricated. The pieces could be made from either plastic or metal, says Briscella, but the metal finish of these particular chairs is especially striking. Using state-of-the-art additive manufacturing technology combined with new development software increased efficiency of production for the project, as well as increasing the visual aesthetic.

The collection owes its design not only to artistic thought, but mathematics as well, as so many fascinating pieces of art do.

“In Continuum theories, mathematical models demonstrate a gradual transition from one condition to another with variations but no abrupt differences in the sequence,” Briscella tells us. “Applying this notion to the dialogue of design, the collection is representative of the forms, proportions, and dimensions of the classical modern furniture, yet the emphasis is on technology. As we look throughout the past 100 years of chairs, the references determined the optimal form and dimensions. Even as Mozart turned to Bach for musical inspiration and improved upon the structures. This is the way the collection encompasses the works of Eames, Saarinen, (and more…) while changing the compositions with new tools of creation.”

3D printing has opened up a whole new realm of furniture design, resulting in some astounding creations that likely could never be made using any other method of fabrication. Like so many other industries, the furniture industry is being changed by 3D printing, even allowing tables and chairs to be 3D printed for customers on demand.

It’s exciting to watch what artists and designers are doing with the technology, creating pieces that are functional yet fantastic works of art. Take a closer look at the Continuum³ collection below:

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[Images courtesy of John Briscella]