Melissa Ng is a dreamer who has learned to face her fears. Her bravery, which is not the absence of fear, but rather the ability to do despite it, is channeled through her creation Lumecluster. She introduces her idea of making as an act of courageous self exploration on her website:
“As a creative entrepreneur (feel free to insert maker, artist, blogger, author, etc.) you go through a lot of emotional turmoil trying to bring your dreams to life. And when the going gets tough, fear of failure, rejection, and becoming your own worst enemy are just some of the obstacles that can get in your way. Through 3D printed Dreamer Masks, Lumecluster wants to help you break through fear and self doubt and empower you to fight for your dreams.”
Masks have served as powerful tools for transformation throughout human history. They serve to reinforce cultural bonds, call on powerful spirits, portray individual and group dreams, and to tell stories. For Ng, the cultural group that needs masks now more than ever is the entrepreneurial tribe, a fierce group of makers, warriors of innovation and a collective of dreamers, dealing with their own demons of doubt and muses of inspiration.
“Deep down, I always wanted to create something eerie and this was clearly my chance! So, what was my real fear? Well…I had never designed/printed a full color mask, never made a life-like mask, never painted a texture for a model, never UV mapped, and never experimented with any materials beyond plastics and metals.”
Technology is a best friend and a worst enemy in a crisis and, of course, Ng’s tablet decided to make a dramatic exit, leaving her to paint with her mouse. No matter, by the end of day two they were making headway, despite not having Reedus’ measurements. By some miracle, JiHAE engineered Reedus’ brief visit to Shapeways to have his face 3D scanned and photos made that would ensure a match in skin tone.
“As you already guessed, they were a success. I was so relieved…I just wanted to cry and fall asleep on the Shapeways factory table. My part was complete…all that was left was the music video shoot itself. There was pressure, uncertainty, doubt, confusion, anxiety…Looking back, I loved every minute of it because it was a challenge (and risk) I was willing to take.”
You won’t know you need to watch this again until its over, but trust me, you will.
Tell us what you think about these 3D printed masks in the Melissa Ng Designs Masks for JiHAE Music Video forum thread at 3DPB.com.