3D Printing and sculpture have long been a marriage made since the dawn of 3D printing. Just do a search for “3d printed sculpture” in Google Images and you will find a vast array of 3d printed sculptures ranging from the architecture of famous landmarks, busts taken from historical figures, characters and weapons from games, all of the way to 3D printed fractals and everything in between. Now a Japanese artist has combined 3D printing and aquarium life to create stunning pieces of minimalistic living art.
Misawa Haruka, the designer and founder of Misawa Design Institute, has created a series of aquariums entitled “Waterscapes”. These aquariums of minimalistic design include 3D printed objects that take their inspiration from underwater environments. These 3D printed sculptures mimic aquatic flora and fauna such as coral to create habitat for small marine life to use as hiding places. Using weight and mass to her advantage, she creates digital sculptures that would typically fall under its own weight but through the use of physics and the buoyancy of water, these underwater masses can exist without toppling over. Thus creating beautiful minimalistic living and hiding spaces for underwater life.
In the words of Misawa Haruka
“Underneath the surface of water is a unique environment that exudes an energy which is completely opposite from that which is surrounded by air.
The inner space of this fish tank is created by combining two simple elements of container and water, with an extraordinary world created that differs from the world with air.
Propelled by buoyancy, this is the result of an opposing gravity that is pushing upwards.
For example, when placed in midair, gravels and aquatic plants are bound to fall instantly to the ground, but when placed in water, the gravels would slowly sink to the bottom, and the aquatic plants would gently rise up to the water surface.
Moreover, delicate structures that are prone to damage caused by their own weight on land are able to maintain a stable state because of the relative force of gravity and buoyancy.
The interaction between gravity and buoyance is consciously controlled with this, seeking to explore from zero the ecology where aquatic beings dwell. The observations are then tangibly realized, transformed into the project, Waterscape.” Credits: Combining 3D Printing and Aquatic Life – 3D Printing Industry
