Michael Eden

Amadei, Gian Luca. 2009.
‘Produce’
Blueprint, January 2009

Gian Luca Amadei writes about British ceramicist Michael Eden in the latest edition of Blueprint magazine. Eden uses a type of rapid prototyping known as 3D printing, which layers and bonds successive cross-sections of material. It is precise, inexpensive and quick.

Eden choose to look at Wedgwood’s Creamware collection from 1817 for his final MPhil project at the Royal College of Art. He used 3D printing to create a series called Wedgwoodn’t that subverted the traditional design of a tureen. The pattern was inspired by the artificial bone structures created by 3D printing in medical research. These complex pattern challenged the production technique and Eden had to find a way to overcome the limitations. For example the early prototypes were fragile and the desired colour could not be achieved. To solve these problems he collaborated with the French ceramic specialist Axiatec who began to experiment with the plaster used in Eden’s printer. They found out that this plaster could withstand heat and because of this could be glazed and fired in the traditional way. They also found that rapid prototyped moulds could be created for low temperature metals, and glass blowing and casting.

Amadei writes that,

“For Eden, 3D printing is not replacing traditional crafts but is a new tool, which will increase the possibilities for experimentation in ceramics.”

I wonder if it is too simplistic just to think of digital technology being used to this extent as merely a tool. It changes the design and method of production so much that it seems more like a new process or language than a tool.

I wanted to know more about Eden's work and views on digital technology so I went to his website. Click here for Michael Eden's website.

Whilst searching for more information and images of the project discussed above I came across this statement,

"I have used a combination of drawing, 3D software, traditional hand skills, and digital technology in the development of this work.
Part of this research project is to compare making methods, but my view that the tools are only a way of realising a concept has not changed. Ideas come first, the tools and techniques are then chosen as appropriate." (Eden 2008)

However, from comparing this current project to what he made before investigating digital technologies it seems to me that this new 'tool' has had a significant impact on his work. I will select some images from his website and look at how his use of digital technolgies begins to change his work...