Fashion Photographers Santiago and Mauricio Create 3D Printed Replicas of Supermodel Lindsey Wixson

Santiago and Mauricio Sierra, fashion and pop photographers and filmmakers who thrive on exploiting their media and eagerly embrace experimental techniques, have ventured into the world of 3D scanning and printing with their new fashion doll created in the likeness of American supermodel Lindsey Wixson.

The duo–brothers in real life and art–launched what they refer to as the “interdisciplinary project” they call MODOLL a year ago. After “several months of study and experimentation with the latest 3D scanning and printing techniques,” they produced what they contend is the “first fashion doll of its kind.” While that may not be the case–we reported just over a year ago on Vogue’s Karlie Kloss fashion doll–the results of Santiago and Mauricio’s foray into 3D are without question quite original.

The project website includes short videos that describe the 3D scanning sessions in which first that famous face with Wixson’s distinctive, Lauren-Hutton style gap between the two front teeth and then the body were captured in a process that collaborator Curtis Schmitt from Fauxograph New York describes as “deconstructing the body.” In the videos, Wixson wears close-fitting, flesh-tone garments and a skull-hugging cap so that the shape of her body and face can be captured accurately.

Holding a trial print of the Wixson dolls–a bust rather than full-body image–Schmitt discussed the 3D printing phase of the MODOLL project, explaining, “So, each printing technology has its own sort of set of steps. In our case, between our resin printer and the powder printer, they’re pretty labor-intensive but that’s because they’re a higher-end product.” After a series of experimental prints were produced, the final 3D prints were made in white rather than clear resin.

Reflecting on the benefits of 3D printing, including its capacity to maintain the connection between the creators and manufacturers of objects, Schmitt said in the video:

“It (3D printing) pushes the capabilities of 3D printing right to the edge. Our first test was in a basically translucent or clear resin. What’s great about clear resin is that it allows us to explore the outer surfaces of the object but it also allows us to see the engineering.”

The 3D printed Wixson figurine in a dress designed by Yves Saint-Laurent

After the figures were 3D printed, refined, and polished, makeup artist Ralph Siciliano--who is accustomed to working with actual living, breathing models–had the delicate task of applying the cosmetics to the small-scale versions of Wixson. Wigmaker Thanos Samaras created wigs in a variety of styles to be paired with the different fashions that would ultimately adorn the jointed, posable (of course!) Wixson dolls. Finally, Charlotte Stockdale, the well-known fashion stylist, selected some of her favorite looks from this year’s season of haute couture.

The clothing and accessories were modified to fit the tiny Wixson replicas and the last step in the process was the photo shoot wherein each of the glamorous miniatures were photographed by the famous brothers who called their faux fashion mag of the Wixson miniatures MODOLL, a play on the French word for fashion–“mode.” Unlike the Kloss replicas, which were superb in their own right, the 3D-printed and extravagantly dressed Wixson dolls capture something essential and unique about Wixson–that certain je ne sais quoi that is the marker of rare and, in Lindsey’s case, idiosyncratic beauty.

What do you think about this doll?  Let us know in the 3D Printed Supermodel Forum thread on 3DPB.com