2015

One of a Kind is an ongoing series of vases replicated many times over using the same 3D model and 3D printing process. Through this series, Alterfact plays with the notion of 3D-printing as a mix of the industrial and handmade. Alterfact disputes the perfect reproductive abilities of the 3D-printing process, and draws the audience's attention to the intensive and imperfect labour required to print in clay.

By switching out the traditional plastic for clay, Alterfact's creation of a series of imperfect copies acts as an intervention into the perceived consistency and sterility of 3D-printing. The medium of clay exaggerates the limitations and idiosyncrasies of the manufacturing process, creating a series of work that is uniform in its source material, but produces a host of unique iterations.

Working with a homemade 3D printer to create One of a Kind, Alterfact has further imbued the project with a blend of the manufactured and hand crafted. The industrialisation of a traditionally hand-forged medium such as clay is again re-contextualised as 'hand-made' as the process required careful human intervention to calibrate the machine, process and hand-mix the clay, and constantly monitor the speed and pressure.

One of a Kind was exhibited as a part of the 2014 Victorian Craft Awards.

Individual vessels from the One of a Kind series have been made available for purchase, and can be found in Alterfact's online shop here. This vase is in the collection of the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences, Sydney.

Explore the gallery below to see all the pieces from the exhibition.