A project to touch the shapes of tradition by combining 3D printing with traditional materials and techniques

Keywords

Digital Fabrications,Traditional Techniques,Touchable Museum Materials

Objectives

The present research uses digital fabrications to give three dimensions to the shapes of tradition and get at their plastic characteristics and latent beauty while conducting a fresh inquiry into ethnic culture. When one has three-dimensional output, thanks to the fusion of digital technologies and traditional techniques, one can attempt to create museum materials that go beyond the existing framework for touchable educational materials and further attempt to establish methods for creating three-dimensional materials that will also contribute to a museum’s educational and learning programs.
As for that which is to be given shape, the focus will be on those things for which there is a dearth of three-dimensional materials such as icons and beings that exist in the imagination, such as the spirits depicted by Australian aboriginals in tree bark and the apparitions that exist in Japanese folklore around the country. In addition, this project will also explore the possibility of rendering in three dimensions those things whose form shifts over time such as the Ainu crane dance. Museum materials made touchable through the combination of 3D printing and traditional techniques can help to deepen the understanding of those materials by both the visually impaired and sighted persons and can be expected to lead to increasing the value of a museum’s resources. The objective of the present research is also to offer an image of a more open museum, accomplished by putting concrete works on display.