The Extension of the Craftsman's Hand Through Robotics

The research explores how the use of robotics extends the craftsman’s hand to utilize both the quality of the craftsman’s hands' movement and the robot through wire cutting a lump of clay. The research shows how the craftsman can upscale the power and range of the craftsman’s hand and, at the same time, deal with small details and repetition beyond what is possible the work with the hand. Thus, it is explored how robotics create new possibilities within crafting and how such technologies can build on traditional techniques within the field of ceramics.

The project was initiated as part of the first-year design course: Experiment, Material and Technology at the Royal Danish Academy in collaboration with Jakob Sieder-Semlitsch,Technical Consultant, Workshop Facilities, Aarhus School of Architecture, - and further developed in an experimental workshop about traditional ceramic craft techniques in conjunction with robotics at the master program Architectural Technology at the Royal Danish Academy in collaboration with Tom Svilan, Center for Information Technology and Architecture (CITA).

Finally, the project was developed in an artistic research project by Flemming Tvede Hansen at the Danish governmental workshops and exhibited in a solo show at Danish governmental workshops' exhibition space FOYER.

The movement of the robot is recorded by manually moving the attached tool by the students in the first-year design course: Experiment, Material and Technology.