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Work of art "couple" with SLS

Sean Henry, a world-renowned sculptor, was commissioned to create the UK's first permanent offshore sculpture for the Northumbrian coastal village of Newbiggin-by-the-Sea, as it underwent a major development project to bring the once famous beach and sea front back to, and beyond, its former glory. Between March and September 2007, the £10million project involved recharging the beach with 500,000 tonnes of new sand, building a new breakwater in the bay and improving the promenade.

Sean's creation, "Couple", has been the culmination of three years work and comprises two 5-metre tall bronze figures; a man and a woman. Created in a boatyard in Liverpool, a special paint normally reserved for oil tankers was used on the figures. On the evening of 17th August 2007 they were placed on a steel pier 15 metres long and 7.5 metres in height on the new breakwater 350 metres out into Newbiggin Bay. Looking wistfully out to sea, at high tide the waves crash against the legs of the sculpture's platform.

"Couple" in Newbiggin Bay, facing east from the breakwater

Before Sean could begin work on the full-size bronze sculptures, he needed a way of visualising his design in 3-dimensional form in a more manageable size. He also had to present his proposal to Wansbeck District Council; the main client behind the commissioning of the full sized "Couple", and members of the South East Northumberland Public Art & Design Initiative (INSPIRE); an organisation which encourages the involvement of art and artists with local communities throughout Northumberland.

Having initially produced 5ft models of "Couple" in plaster, Sean commissioned 3T RPD Ltd to build various sized scale model versions of the figures in a white Nylon material using their Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) technology. However, the SLS process is driven by the use of 3D CAD data, which Sean didn't have. Therefore, 3T scanned the 5ft models generating accurate CAD data that was an exact replica of the sculptures. Rather than relying upon a CAD Engineer to copy the design and then translate it into a 3D CAD model, this scanning process exactly mimicked the artist’s design without creating any opportunities for errors or misinterpretations

Sean working with SLS models of "Couple"

3T then built 50 sets of 20cm high scale versions in SLS in October 2006, some of which Sean hand-painted and used to show Wansbeck District Council. Mounted upon a wooden scale model of the platform, it illustrated how the completed work of art would look. Many of the remaining unpainted SLS models were sold privately through various galleries as limited edition pieces of art.

SLS models of "Couple"	Hand painting the models	Painted models	Mounted on wooden model of platform

A further batch of 100 20cm high scale models were produced in SLS and mounted on perspex bases to echo the pier platform. They were numbered 1 to 100 as limited edition pieces, boxed and given to a variety of people involved in the main project, with Wansbeck District Council purchasing editions 1-70 for their own distribution.

12cm scale versions on perspex bases

3T also produced a one-off scale model at 46cm high. The two SLS figurines were silicone-moulded prior to being cast in bronze as a limited edition of nine sets. Having made a few alterations in the wax, these bronze figures will be available for purchase through many of Sean's art dealers in the UK, USA, Holland and Sweden.

Sean took his inspiration for "Couple" from the scale of the breakwater. He decided the project should have three distinct elements: the tapered steel pier platform and the two figures. He always wanted to have more than one figure to reflect a shared experience and intends to create an air of mystery by keeping the figures anonymous, looking out to sea with their backs to the shore. Not only is the artwork likely to be a hit with tourists, it also looks set to make a big splash in the art world. "This spectacular setting will provide a unique context for Henry's work, creating a wonderful platform for what, in spite of its size, is an intimate sculpture which speaks to all of us," said Peter Osborne, Director of Osborne Samuel Gallery in London.

Work in progress on the 5m tall sculptures

Painting the sculptures

The finished "Couple"

Sean has also been commissioned to work on a new project with the Standard Chartered Bank in London, and is currently working on nine bronze figures to be installed in a new 5-storey atrium at the Bank's new headquarters in London, which is due for completion in 2008. The finished atrium will include a 1.4m high bronze version of "Couple". In order to visualise the concept and present the proposed design for the new atrium to the Bank, a 7cm high SLS version of "Couple" was used in a unique 1:20 scale model of the new atrium. The white Nylon pair were hand-painted by Sean and fitted into the model on a wall mounted plinth, prior to the work's presentation to the client. Sean is working with 3d scanning again on this project and is excited about the potential of both the scanning and sintering processes, especially as a starting point for metal casting.

The 1:20 scale model of the 5-storey atrium at Standard Chartered Bank’s HQ in London

For further information relating to Sean Henry's work, please visit www.seanhenry.com. More information on the Newbiggin Bay project can be found at http://www.newbigginbay.co.uk/art.html.

For further information relating to 3T's services, visit www.3trpd.co.uk or contact them on +44 (0)1635 580284 to discuss your project in more detail. You can email your 3D CAD data to post@3trpd.co.uk for a quotation.

Further information:

3T RPD Ltd

3T RPD Ltd produce functional and aesthetic prototype models using Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) technology to assist their customers in launching new products into the marketplace in the shortest leadtimes possible and within development budgets. Their suite of six SLS machines, together with a comprehensive range of SLS materials, enables them to uniquely apply the optimal machine and material to meet their customers' Rapid Prototyping needs. 3T remain unchallenged as the UK's largest SLS provider.

Furthermore, they have recently increased their offering to include metal parts using Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS). Increasing their already impressive 13,000 sq. ft. purpose-built premises by a further 6,000 sq. ft., they can offer metal parts built on an EOS M270 in a range of materials including Cobalt Chrome or Stainless Steel for environments such as aerospace and automotive, and Bronze or Maraging Steel for tooling requirements.

With highly trained engineers who are experts in their field, they consistently produce accurate, functional parts with the best surface finish and mechanical properties that these technologies can provide. Their skilled modelmakers ensure every last detail is taken care of and bespoke finishing services offer a range of options including colouring of the parts, the inclusion of mechanical components, inserts or screw threads, generating a model that is comparable to the final manufactured item. www.3trpd.co.uk

Sean Henry

Sean Henry was born in Woking in 1965. He studied at Bristol Polytechnic (1984-1987) and at the University of California (1991). A full-time sculptor for nearly 20-years, he has exhibited his work in England, America, Australia, Italy, Holland, Sweden and Germany, and won the Villiers David prize in 1998. His first solo show was in London in 1988 and his most recent, his thirteenth, in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles in 2006. Sean has become adept at the manipulation of scale and almost always avoids life-sized representation. He explores the narrative capabilities of sculpture through a variety of strategies; by using more than one figure; by the economical use of contemporary iconography; and by a masterful ability to suggest psychological presence. His figurative sculptures are self-contained, often pensive, preoccupied by their inner imaginings and are even slightly melancholy. They exude what the ancient Greeks used to call sophrosyne, or self-control. This sense of being grounded is central to Sean's figures and creates their strong physical presence, their sense of being and enduring. www.seanhenry.com

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