Singapore, 17 January 2025 — Scarce City is an interactive arts and technology experience hosted at the National Gallery Singapore and supported by the National Additive Manufacturing Innovation Cluster (NAMIC). This innovative exhibition delves into the psychology behind climate change and explores the concept of scarcity through a fusion of games and immersive theatre. Utilising advanced 3D Printing and body tracking technology, this exhibit invites you to navigate an illuminated resource management game with real-world implications for the climate transition.
The Inception of Scarce City
Elizabeth Mak, the digital artist and creator behind Scarce City, has always been drawn to immersive and participatory art. Scarce City was inspired by her work in immersive theatre, drawing heavily from her experiences in the United States, particularly the Albany Park Theatre Project, which focused on community stories and social issues. This background laid the foundation for Scarce City, where the audience actively participates in the narrative, having them reflect on broader societal issues.
Influenced by Singapore’s early transformation challenges, Elizabeth and the team aimed to create a subterranean atmosphere that evokes a sense of artificial pressure and scarcity on the exhibit. This vision draws from the city’s progress in development and remarkable success in overcoming numerous challenges. The exhibit embodies a void of light and resources, with its desolate space reflecting the concept of scarcity.
Close-up of the rock façade. Photography by NAMIC Singapore
How 3D Printing shaped the vision for Scarce City
Finding a fabrication method that could accommodate a variety of designs while achieving the organic, lustrous elegance of the natural rock formations echoing the rugged beauty of Singapore’s quarry landscape was a challenge. Initially, the team considered conventional manufacturing methods like injection moulding, where melted plastics are shaped into moulds, and vacuum forming, which involves draping heated plastics over a mould. While both methods could achieve the glass-like transparency Elizabeth envisioned, they could not keep up with the fast-paced iterations required in Scarce City’s tight timelines. The steep costs, excessive waste and design limitations made 3D printing a more practical decision than conventional methods for the team.
However, an unexpected meeting with Hui Yijian, an Additive Manufacturing Engineer from the NAMIC Hub@SIT, prompted Elizabeth to research and consider 3D printing the exhibit. 3D printing technology provided the design freedom and flexibility needed to build the rock façade, which features over 1700 customised 3D-printed designs across two 10-metre walls. Additionally, collaborating with an AM engineer allowed Elizabeth to unleash her creativity and imagination as an art designer in ways never possible in conventional manufacturing, exploring innovative designs and solutions.
Yijian (left) and Elizabeth (right) examining the past design iterations. Photography by NAMIC Singapore
Behind the Scenes: From Concept to Reality
The production feat of Scare City was no easy feat. It took the team over a year of thorough prototyping and design iterations to complete over 1700 print designs for the exhibition. This project was completed within a single studio, with each step requiring thorough and detailed attention and precision. Each rock started as a design file, then converted into a printable part, followed by a detailed post-processing and assembly process. Before printing, the plastic material was carefully dehydrated to ensure the consistency and quality of the final product. To achieve the elusive, glass-like aesthetics of the rock wall, the 3D printer had to be calibrated, with reprints necessary for failed attempts. With each rock piece measuring less than 25cm by 25cm by 25cm, the team precisely hand-welded the pieces together, ensuring a seamless fusion that formed the modular giant rock wall design. The assembled piece demonstrated the deep commitment and care that fuelled the project.
Printing and assembling the rock façade. Photography by Scarce City Team
Sustainability: Walking the Talk
The profound commitment to sustainability is at the heart of the exhibition. The team’s decision to use 3D printing was motivated by the design flexibility and autonomy, and the desire to create a sustainable approach within the supply. 3D printing allows a seamless workflow that integrates design and production by turning prototypes directly into final products, which is crucial for tight timelines. It also allows for precise material use, reducing waste and offering greater efficiency in the production process.
Another key consideration for the fabrication of the set was the longevity and reusability of the rock wall sculptures. The set was designed to be modular to ensure adaptions for various configurations in future exhibits. Despite the higher costs, the entire façade was printed with more than 200 kg of recycled PET filament, aligned with the team’s commitment to sustainability. Each piece was also meticulously heat-welded together to maintain the plastic’s recyclability after the end life of the exhibition.
Looking Ahead
Elizabeth’s vision for Scarce City extends beyond its current iteration, and she aims to take the exhibition on a roving tour to bring its powerful message to a broader audience. At the heart of Scarce City lies the seamless integration between art and technology. She sees the creative process as a blend of artistic and scientific inquiry, where dedication, methodical exploration, and constant iteration drive innovation behind her work. To continue exploring this unique creative space, Elizabeth is considering establishing a 3D printing studio to continue pushing the boundaries of immersive experiences using art and technology.
Scarce City will be hosted at the National Gallery Singapore on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 11 January to 30 March 2025. Get your tickets here.
For media queries and clarifications, please contact:
Ms Michelle Ng
Senior Manager, Marketing, NAMIC
[email protected]
About National Additive Manufacturing Innovation Cluster
The National Additive Manufacturing Innovation Cluster (NAMIC) is a national platform hosted by the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), supported by the National Research Foundation under the Prime Minister’s Office and the Ministry of Trade and Industry, together with Enterprise Singapore and the Singapore Economic Development Board. NAMIC aims to accelerate the adoption of hybrid and digital additive manufacturing technologies under Singapore’s Manufacturing and Economy 2030 Vision, helping industries transform towards innovation and high value-added manufacturing using sustainably sourced, nature-based designs and cradle-to-cradle on-demand manufacturing. NAMIC achieves this by focusing on value capture and creation through an industry sectoral engagement approach, leveraging public-private partnerships and R&D investments, supporting translational research, and accelerating industry test-bedding towards commercial scale-up. NAMIC continues to grow its international outreach, identifying and supporting deep-tech companies incorporating AM technologies seeking capital injection either through project joint-funding or its investor networks.
For more information, please visit https://namic.sg.