Checking out the Fablab with Eliot Duran
For all those for whom the term “FabLab” only vaguely rings a bell: FabLabs - short for fabrication laboratories - are public workshops where you can come and make things with all kinds of techniques and computer-controlled machines. Think laser cutters and 3D printers, for example. FabLabs are also communities where, in addition to the machines, makers share ideas and experiences with each other. For artist Eliot Duran, the FabLab was a discovery that brought his artistic work into its fold. We meet him at iMAL's FabLab in Brussels where he will give an introductory session on laser cutting at our media arts festival Div.fuse on December 5.
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text and photographs: Ben Money-Kyrle (21/11/2024)
“After studying illustration and carpentry in Brussels, I discovered 3D software programs and eventually found my vocation as a sculptor, among other disciplines,” Eliot Duran tells us. When we speak to him, he is busy printing some of his sculptures with the 3D printers. His training as a carpenter inspired Duran to pursue his interest in sculptural forms. During this training, he made wooden children's toys; an early glimpse of the theme of his current artworks.
It was a residency at Brussels-based technological arts center iMAL in 2019 that set Duran on his current path: for two weeks, he had access to all the equipment and materials available in the lab. There, he began 3D printing his designs that previously existed only in digital form. Meanwhile, Duran is an established member of iMAL.
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“I started designing objects by playing with the intuitive tools of the software program Sculptris,” Duran says, “experimenting digitally with the clay-like substance that can be stretched, divided and altered. Although Sculptris is now considered obsolete - I use my old macbook to keep it running - it is still an essential tool for my creative process, as I use it to design my pieces before beginning the staging and animation of the objects in programs such as Blender, an open source 3D graphics software.”
“Old Flemish masters are the real thing, but any art from before 1800 will do the job. Oh, and carved beer jugs.”
Postures and beer steins
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The artworks Duran is printing in the FabLab are stacked in several boxes. As he explains his creative process and how his art career led him to the FabLab, I browse through his sculptures. They are figurines reminiscent of historical scenes. Duran has a clear fondness for ancient art. “Old Flemish masters are the very best source of inspiration, but really I find all art before 1800 interesting,” he says. “Oh, and engraved beer mugs. I also find those really fascinating and inspiring.” Duran's kitschy scenes and figures are directly inspired by artwork from the 16th and 17th centuries, and more specifically the ceramics and pitchers produced in Western Europe during this period. By printing his designs with pastel colors and cheap plastics, they take on a porcelain aesthetic, confusing the viewer. By combining these old iconographic scenes and themes with new materials, Duran questions - with slight derision - our Western modernity.​
So what materials exactly does he use? 3D printers work with “filament,” the “ink” of the 3D printer so to speak. Duran uses filament made of PLA (polylactic acid) or ABS (Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene). PLA is an inexpensive corn-based plastic that is less chemically polluting because it does not use petroleum and is compostable. ABS, in turn, is a harder plastic that produces the glossy texture of the sculptures. It is used household appliances and LEGO bricks, for example.
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Because of small changes in paint or printing errors, each sculpture Duran creates is a unique piece reminiscent of the precious nature of handmade figurines found in historical museums. He therefore prints his sculptures at a scale proportional to the objects that served as inspiration, in order to play with just that realism and confusion. In addition, the choice of these relatively smaller formats also has a practical side: printing figures at a larger size would greatly increase the cost of materials, especially because of the many experiments required in his creation process.
Introduction to laser cutting
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During his workshop at Div.fuse, Duran will use a CNC milling machine - more popularly known as a laser cutter - accessible in the FabLab. It is a device he also frequently uses in his work. The idea is for workshop participants to learn to convert images to 3D material and learn to use the machine to cut into the wood and to sculpt in layers in the wood. Duran demonstrates the process by cutting out a simple drawing of a dolphin. During the workshop, participants will have the opportunity to bring their own images or drawings and convert them to digital files that can be cut out of wood by the machine.
How does this process work? “First, you choose the material in which the image will be cut,” Duran explains. “This material has to be a maximum of 10mm thick. Next, you need a vector file.” Therefore, you have to convert your image into a vector file. Using the software program SmartCave, you define the outer lines of your image and set the thickness of the cut, as well as the color associated with that particular dimension and the power of the laser cutter. The outer lines of the work you want to produce should then be set to that color. Afterwards, you can play with the inside of your work, by varying the inner lines in thickness and the power of the laser cutter. This allows you to create shadows and work with multiple layers within your image to make an interesting final result.
Want to know more about Fablabs?
iMAL's FabLab was created in 2012 to provide the tools and machines for creators in Brussels to experiment and use materials that are not generally accessible. It operates on a membership program, with participants paying €65 per month or €200 per year. Residents of Sint-Jans-Molenbeek and Brussels art students only pay €100 for an annual membership. Once you are a member, you can reserve specific devices during the week. You can see the list of devices here. There is also the possibility of applying for a residency, as Eliot Duran did, which are meant to help you develop your prototypes, models, new materials and other projects.​
However, there are plenty of other FabLabs in Belgium. Sometimes they are attached to universities and colleges. Each FabLab works in a different way. Some are accessible for free where you only pay for materials or the use of specific machines. Here is an overview of all FabLabs in the Benelux.