designboom · Creativity & design

3D Printed Sculptures Blend Classical and Sci-Fi Elements at Frieze Sculpture

Czech artist Matyáš Chochola is exhibiting three large-scale 3D printed concrete sculptures at Frieze Sculpture 2026 in London. The works, titled BRUTALIST, METEOR, and MACE II, combine digital fabrication with manual interventions.

The sculptures are part of a larger series reinterpreting Baroque allegories through references to Antiquity, Cubism, Brutalism, mythology, and science fiction. Developed with Czech company Voxell, the 3D concrete printing process incorporates varied orientations, non-planar paths, and programmed irregularities, with subsequent hand-carving, polishing, and addition of materials like glass and bronze.

BRUTALIST merges classical columns with Brutalist architecture and futuristic visions. METEOR connects classical architecture with cosmic and geological themes, featuring hand-embedded glass shards. MACE II draws inspiration from Brutalist design, fantasy, and 1980s sci-fi, resembling a weapon or relic.

Each sculpture stands approximately three to four meters tall and weighs about one ton. The process involves digital modeling, robotic fabrication, and manual handwork, creating a hybrid of machine precision and human touch.

Chochola's work continues a theme of reinterpretation, echoing the historical shift of Braun's original sandstone figures from outdoor display to indoor preservation. The sculptures are installed in The Regent’s Park, integrating diverse materials and visual languages into a contemporary public space.

Frieze Sculpture 2026, curated by Fatoş Üstek, aims to explore a 'vibrant hybrid ecology,' positioning sculpture within its landscape and audience context.

AI-samenvatting op basis van de bron.