Research

A 3D look at the world’s cultural heritage

Published 16 July 2012

Tiny cracks in Michelangelo's statue of David, first spotted almost 140 years ago, are being monitored using ground-breaking 3D technology to understand if they are growing worse.

This is an example of how science is revolutionising the cultural heritage sector and is one of many stories that will be told at an exhibition at the University of Brighton this summer, from July 27 to August 25, drawing on iconic examples from the Abu Simbel site in Egypt, to the museums of Florence, the Louvre and the V&A.

The exhibition at the university’s Grand Parade campus in Brighton has been organised by a consortium led by the university and involving 19 expert partners, including the Victoria & Albert Museum (V&A). 3D-COFORM is a unique partnership of experts, from computer scientists to specialists in the arts and the heritage sector working in art galleries, museums and research centres across Europe and beyond.

Tiny cracks in Michelangelo's statue of David

The consortium is coordinated by the University of Brighton’s Professor David Arnold, Director of Research Initiatives and Head of the Cultural Informatics Research Group. He explained that the exhibition will demonstrate how 3D technology is transforming the way sites and museums preserve their artefacts and artworks and tell their stories.

The Italian Consiglio Nazionale Delle Ricerche will tell the story of the reconstruction of the “La Madonna di Pietranico” statue which was shattered by the Abruzzo earthquake in 2009. Conservators scanned fragments from the statue in 3D and pieced together a virtual reconstruction from the jigsaw puzzle of remains. They used the scans to analyse traces of the original layers of colour, while 3D models provided shape and form for the creation of new internal supports to hold the pieces together.

Also on display will be a physical copy of a Kazafani boat excavated from a tomb in Turkey and dating to the 23th century BC. Crafted in pottery, the original was too fragile to be moved so was carefully scanned and modelled in 3D by the Cyprus Institute and, using rapid prototyping technology, the replica recreates the original colours, surface markings, and even evidence of past damage and repairs. This was the only way to bring the boat to a new audience, notably for an exhibition at the Smithsonian in Washington DC.

3D technology is also enabling completely new approaches to cultural heritage challenges. In the exhibition there will examples of using 3D chisel marks and brush strokes to investigate the provenance of artworks such as the Pietà de Palestrina sculpture (attributed to Michelangelo) and a possible self portrait of van Eyck.

The exhibition will also show how new techniques are being developed to record some more challenging artefacts and materials and will include technologies never exhibited before as well as examples of new uses for old materials. One exhibit will show how 3D content of the temples at Abu Simbel was created from photographs taken before they were moved from their original location in the 1960’s.

The exhibition runs from 27 July to 25 August and those taking part include the V&A who will show high-quality 3D models of Mr Punch and other artefacts; in future this technology will allow the public to handle antiques and exhibits virtually.

These technologies also offer the opportunity for better access to museums. Professor Arnold added: “What you see at any given time in a museum is only the tip of the iceberg. There are normally many more things in storage than on display. With 3D scanning, everything a museum holds could be recorded and made available for viewing at any time. Moreover, with 3D technology you'll be able to see details which are impossible to see on a museum visit as you’ll see in the exhibition of medieval coins from Pisa.”

For more information about the project and exhibition go to: http://exhibition.3d-coform.eu/

Exhibition dates: 27 July to 25 August
Entrance free. An associated series of seminars will be advertised on the website.