Singapore: A collaboration between NAMIC Hub@SIT and artist Elizabeth Mak has led to the creation of Scarce City, an innovative immersive installation using 3D printing and recycled materials to highlight resource scarcity and promote sustainable practices in art.
A recent collaboration between NAMIC Hub@SIT and climate artist Elizabeth Mak has culminated in an innovative immersive art installation titled Scarce City, which utilises cutting-edge additive manufacturing technologies, including 3D printing, to highlight sustainability in the art world. The project was designed to provoke thought regarding resource scarcity and sustainability while showcasing the transformative potential of technology in artistic expression.
The Scarce City installation features a body-tracking resource management game that challenges participants to consider the implications of living in a resource-scarce environment. This engaging experience integrates illuminating visuals and team dynamics, inviting audiences to reflect on their own resource usage and environment-conscious practices.
A critical aspect of the project’s design involved the use of rPET filament, derived from recycled plastics, which aligns with Elizabeth Mak’s vision of creating art that embodies sustainability. The process of developing Scarce City was experimental, requiring significant iterative prototyping to achieve the necessary design specifications. Despite facing challenges in sourcing a printer capable of creating the intricate 1m x 1m blocks of the installation, NAMIC Hub@SIT provided the necessary support and resources to bring the ambitious project to fruition within a 10-month timeline.
Professor Gan Hiong Yap, Head of NAMIC Hub@SIT, noted the importance of such partnerships, stating, “While many are promoting AM in engineering, we strive to go beyond the typical approach. We aim to develop something unique and exciting that showcases both the distinctive design possibilities enabled by AM and its ability to contribute significantly to a more sustainable world.”
The journey to creation involved extensive research and development (R&D), which included determining material specifications to achieve the ideal translucency for the installation’s light-based components. As the project progressed, the team transitioned to full-scale production, ultimately delivering approximately 4,000 individual pieces that were thoughtfully assembled into multi-dimensional walls and sculptures that reflect Singapore’s natural beauty.
The installation was not only monumental in scale, requiring 7,520 hours of printing and 680 hours of assembly, but it also strategically employed 3D printing to reduce the waste commonly associated with large art projects. Only 10kg of waste was produced during the creation of Scarce City, accounting for a mere 5% of total materials used. This level of efficiency is a hallmark of additive manufacturing, which constructs objects layer by layer, allowing for greater material conservation compared to traditional subtractive methods.
Yijian Hui, an AM Design Engineer at NAMIC Hub@SIT, expressed his admiration for the project’s scale and impact, remarking, “At the beginning, the idea of printing so many pieces felt almost unimaginable. Then, when it finally came together and I saw all 4,000 pieces for the first time, I was in awe.”
The NAMIC Hub@SIT’s innovative approach demonstrates a commitment not only to artistic exploration but also to broader applications of additive manufacturing across various sectors. Projects have been initiated where students in health sciences are prototyping customised tools for patient care, while others involve creating tactile books for visually impaired children. Such versatility underscores the potential of 3D printing technology to enhance lives and address social issues.
Scarce City stands as a noteworthy example of how art and technology can integrate to foster sustainability. The singular focus on creating an immersive experience while dramatically reducing waste underlines a shift towards circular design principles, wherein materials can be repurposed effectively over time. The ongoing collaboration between the NAMIC Hub@SIT and progressive artists highlights a growing imperative within both art and technology to work towards sustainable solutions that resonate with contemporary global challenges.
Overall, the commitment to utilising additive manufacturing to advance sustainability is evident within this project—a compelling showcase that interweaves artistic vision with technological innovation, paving the way for future explorations at the crossroads of art, design, and environmental responsibility.
Source: Noah Wire Services
