Exploring digital manufacturing in fine art, crafts and design practice

A one-day conference held at Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), London
24 February 2009

Please double-click on the name of a speaker to listen to their presentation:

MRI image of healthy heart made into silver model using 3D MRI data, 20cm x 15cm x 15cm (photograph Jane Prophet)

On Tuesday 24 February Artquest presented Ex Machina, a one-day conference that explored the myriad ways in which visual practitioners are embracing and exploiting new technologies in order to produce contemporary work. These could include Rapid Prototyping Technology, CNC milling and 3D digital printing.

Through the presentation of a historical overview and current case studies the conference showed how artists have repeatedly exploited technologies and in fact are often early adopters of new tools, materials and techniques that have historically been developed for other industries.

This Artquest event helped develop critical awareness, knowledge and understanding of the scope and potential of current technologies available, through demonstrating their application by artists, craftspeople and designers.

The day concluded with a visit to Metropolitan Works in order to view a forthcoming exhibition about the use of RPT by fine artists, craftspeople and designers and to introduce delegates to the range of facilities and expertise in London. 

Chair & Speakers included:

• Martin Watmough, Director, Digital Manufacturing Centre at London at the Bartlett School of Architecture UCL
• Evelyn Welch, Professor of Renaissance Studies, Queen Mary College London
• Professor Jane Prophet, Department of Computing, Goldsmiths University
• Geoffrey Mann, Studio*Mrmann Aberdeen
• Dr Jayne Wallace, Research Associate in Fine Art & Culture Laboratory Newcastle University
• Dr Katie Bunnell, Leader Autonomatic Research Cluster, University College Falmouth
• Simeon Nelson, Professor of Sculpture, School of Art & Design, University of Hertfordshire
• Philip Delamore, Research Fellow, London College of Fashion
• Matthew Lewis, Centre Manager, Metropolitan Works (Plenary Session)

Download speakers biographies and abstracts below:

• Ex Machina speakers biographies and abstracts (Word, 676k)
• Ex Machina speakers biographies and abstracts (PDF, 4.6MB)
• Ex Machina speakers biographies and abstracts (Text Only, no images, 24k)

You can also separately download information on Simeon Nelson's work in PDF.

Download conference timetable below:

• Ex Machina conference timetable (Word, 200k)
• Ex Machina conference timetable (PDF, 192k)
• Ex Machina conference timetable (Text only format, 8k)

Ex Machina was supported by Arts Council England, University of the Arts London, Crafts Council, CITIN, Metropolitan Works, the Exchange partnership and LCACE