Olivier van Herpt

Craft or cutting-edge technology?

CumLaude

Prizes: Melkweg Nominee, Keep an Eye Grant Nominee

Department: Man and Activity
Website: www.oliviervanherpt.com

Functional 3D Printed Ceramics

Olivier van Herpt has been fascinated with manufacturing and craft from a very early age. His projects research the differences between the man-made and the machine-made. The printer and extruder he has designed are attempts to bridge the gap and were prompted by a desire to 3D-print functional and food safe objects on a human scale. By fine-tuning the settings on this machine, he is able to vary the textures, surfaces, shapes and sizes. His technology even allows for little ‘glitches’ in the designs, to make each printed item unique. The collection showcases the possibilities of this ongoing exploration, echoing the work of the artisans of the past and presenting some of the thinnest 3D-printed ceramics layers available today.