Robot sculptor clones Parthenon marbles to pressure British Museum for repatriation
Based in Carrara, Tor Art is producing marble replicas of the Parthenon friezes that were taken from the Acropolis 200 years ago, utilizing anthropomorphic robots and 3D laser scanning technology. The Institute of Digital Archaeology (IDA) is backing this initiative, with executive director Roger Michel advocating for the copies to be sent to the British Museum to promote the return of the Elgin marbles. After the museum refused scanning access, Michel and technical director Alexy Karenowska resorted to using iPhones and iPads for 3D imaging. Sculpting commenced on June 29, and the initial friezes are anticipated by the end of July. The project has drawn criticism for not consulting the Greek populace. Founded in 2004 by Giacomo Massari and Filippo Tincolini, Tor Art employs a workforce of twenty.
Key facts
- Tor Art uses anthropomorphic robots and 3D laser scanners to create perfect marble copies of Parthenon friezes
- The copies are intended to encourage repatriation of the Elgin marbles from the British Museum to Greece
- IDA executive director Roger Michel stated the copies should go to the British Museum
- IDA staff secretly scanned the marbles in the Duveen Gallery using iPhones and iPads with Lidar sensors
- Robot sculpting began on June 29, starting with a life-sized horse head prototype
- First friezes will be completed by the end of July and exhibited at an unknown London location
- Two additional copies will restore original form and color, including hand-painted skin tones with Greek expert assistance
- The project has been criticized as potentially colonial due to lack of consultation with Greek people and undisclosed funding
- Tor Art was founded in 2004 by Giacomo Massari and Filippo Tincolini
- Tor Art has worked with artists including Amanda Lavete, Zaha Hadid, Maurizio Cattelan, and Jeff Koons
- Tor Art created spin-off company Robotor that builds and sells robotic sculptors
- IDA previously used Tor Art to reconstruct the Arch of Palmyra in 2016
Entities
Artists
- Giacomo Massari
- Filippo Tincolini
- Amanda Lavete
- Zaha Hadid
- Maurizio Cattelan
- Jeff Koons
- Roger Michel
- Alexy Karenowska
- Thomas Bruce
Institutions
- Tor Art
- Institute of Digital Archaeology
- British Museum
- Robotor
- Gypsotheca of Possagno
- Hermitage Museum
- New York Times
Locations
- Carrara
- Italy
- Versilia
- Alpi Apuane
- Acropolis
- Athens
- Greece
- London
- United Kingdom
- Duveen Gallery
- Trafalgar Square
- Fantiscritti
- Possagno