This Artist Turned His Former Flings into 3D Printed Shoe Sculptures
This latest 3D printing project gives a whole new meaning to “statement shoes.” In the exhibit 12 Shoes for 12 Lovers (NSFW), NYC-based artist and designer Sebastian Errazuriz created a collection of sculptural heels each based on his memories of former flings using a desktop 3D printer.
Each shoe is inspired by the personality traits of one of Errazuriz’s exes—a nurturing partner whose sweetness could not be reciprocated is depicted as a bright yellow honeycomb wedge titled “Honey,” while a frigid, detached lover is represented as a spiky icicle covered pump named “Ice Queen.” Each shoe is paired with design sketches, risqué photos, and personal stories that enhance the aura of each sculpture.
In a video on the MakerBot blog, Errazuriz explains how this exhibit went from concept to digital file to piece of art, showing off the intricate prototypes that he says would have been near impossible to produce as cheaply and seamlessly without 3D printing technology. The Chilean-born artist used a MakerBot Replicator 2X to print prototypes and then the final products, which were sanded, primed, and painted before they were placed on display at a Melissa pop-up shop in Miami. Errazuriz praises the influence of 3D printing on the art and design world, calling it the “inception of a little industrial revolution,” and we couldn’t agree more.
What advancement in 3D printing has caught your eye lately? Share your discoveries with us in the comments below!