Project proposal for the Athens Olympics 2004.
The project involves rapid prototyping technics in order to achive in-detail athlet's bodies construction.

Summary:

To honor the Olympic Games, ancient Greeks used to carve memorial represantations of the Games in marble or paint them on vases. Artworks used to present nude athletes in order to emphasize their excellent physical condition (picture 1).

Current project proposal is made in order to produce contemporary artwork prior to the Olympics. My aim is to create a sculptural installation in Athens using rapid prototyping, and 3D scanning services. First, I' d like to explain some things about these services:

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A 3D scanner (picture 2) is laser- and video - based technology which scans an object or a human at exceptionally high resolution and digitizes it in a matter of seconds. An astounding 15,000 points per second are "captured" by the laser scanner, which records color, as well as shape. Read more >>

Whole body scanning requires only 17 seconds to capture the shape and color of an entire human body or a large object. This scanned data (picture 3 ,4) can be further processed for creating accurate, realistic virtual actors, sculpture enlargement or reduction, reverse engineering, costume design, and dress form development. Read more >>

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The scanned data is fed into a computer program that outputs a STL File, which is then outputted to a 3D color printer that builds the figures layer-by-layer. The 3D printer produces a wax or polyurethane foam sculpture of the model (picture 5), that is able to be reproduced in any other material at a later stage. In a few hours’ time, the “mirror image” is complete, with all the details of the original person’s pose and appearance. Any size imaginable, from 6 inches to 100 feet and beyond is able to be produced. Read more >>

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Karin Sander is an artist who has already used rapid prototyping services for her art project. She did 3D bodyscans of living persons who were offered the opportunity to have a 1:9.6 scale sculptural replica of themselves created by new technology. The individual was scanned by the 3D Bodyscanner and then printed by a 3D color printer (picture 6, 7).

Dan Collins is another artist, well known for his writings about sculpture and technology, also Associate Professor of Intermedia within the School of Art at Arizona State University. He has used rapid prototyping for his art projects. His artwork focuces mostly on the transformation of the scanned data through the computer (picture 8, 9).

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To learn even more about rapid prototyping and artists who have produced related artwork, follow the web reference links (end of page), or go to my 'links' page (located at the home page of this site) and follow the links under rapid prototyping and art.

The current proposal concerns a sculptural - monumental installation which could be set up in Athens with the use of rapid prototyping.

In my opinion, athlete's bodies are very interesting due to their excellent physical condition. I think due to the technology's development, nowadays we have the opportunity to exhibit their bodies in public excactly as they are, as an examble of extraordinary individuals who strive for a very specific goal. And their goal is well known to us all.

My idea is to scan Greek champion's bodies whilst they are in motion and then produce their life size 'mirror sculptures' to a material such as glass or bronze or polyester. The installation view will be similar to the thumbnails's on the right and will include all the details of the original athlete’s stance and appearance. (pictures 10, 11)

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Due to this page being created in order to be sent to people that may act as sponsors for this project, I would like to inform you that I have already successfully contacted companies that offer rapid prototyping services in order to provide me with more information about prices and other details. If you wish to act as a sponsor for this art project prior to Athens Olympics 2004 feel free to contact me.

Web references:

• 'CyberFX- experience digital reality', 3D digitizing, Tell me more about whole body scanning, <http://cyberfx.com/>, (Thursday, January 23, 2003).
• 'Karin Sander', Work Selection, 1:9,6, 2002, Text, <http://www.karinsander.de/index.php?id=e2>, (Thursday, January 23, 2003).

List of illustrations:

• (1). 'ATHENS 2004 - Welcome to the Official Site', Home > About the Games > History > Antiquity > ancient sporting events, <http://www.athens2004.com/page/default.asp?id=580&la=2>, (Monday, February 24, 2003).
• (2). 'VITUS - HUMAN SOLUTIONS GmbH', VITUS 3D Body Scanner, <http://www.hs.tecmath.de/produkte_vitus_e.php#top>, (Thursday, January 23, 2003).
• (3). 'DigiSize', <http://www.cyberware.com/products/digisize.html>, (Thursday, January 23, 2003).
• (4). 'Cyberware Samples', <http://www.cyberware.com/samples/index.html#ps>, (Thursday, January 23, 2003).
• (5). 'CyberFX- experience digital reality', sculpting and milling, example 1, <http://cyberfx.com/>, (Thursday, January 23, 2003).
• (6). 'Karin Sander', Work Selection, [1:9,6, 2002], Image 2, <http://www.karinsander.de/index.php?id=e2>, (Thursday, January 23, 2003).
• (7). '1 to 7 - Oslo', Your digital self-portrait as a miniature sculpture, Art Basel - Miami Beach, Stuttgart, Oslo, Karin Sander, Unlimited, 3D body scans of the living person in 1:7.7…scale, 2001, <http://www.oslo1to7.de/oslo.htm>, (Thursday, January 23, 2003).
• (8). 'TeleSculpture99 Gallery', [Collins, Dan], <http://telesculpture.prism.asu.edu/1999/gallery2.html>, (Thursday, January 23, 2003).
• (9). 'Dan Collins', <http://www.asu.edu/cfa/art/people/faculty/collins/>, (Thursday, January 23, 2003).
• (10). <http://www.iera.gr/efimerida/47/1/klelia_kenteris.htm>, (Thursday, January 23, 2003).
• (11). 'ATHENS 2004 - Welcome to the Official Site', Home > E-gallery > Wallpapers, <http://www.athens2004.com/page/default.asp?la=2&id=2954>, (Monday, February 24, 2003).