Master Copy Sculpture
A 3D reimagining of Daniel Spoerri’s iconic snare-picture, blending historical context with contemporary digital techniques.
Discipline — 3D Modeling, Art History
Timeline — September - October 2024 (3 Weeks)
Tools — Blender
Ideation
This project was inspired by my interest in Dada and Nouveau Réalisme, which I explored during a History of Berlin course. Artists like Duchamp, Höch, and Grosz deeply influenced how I think about the meaning of art, especially how readymades and context can reshape perception. I aimed to recreate an everyday moment through 3D modeling, emphasizing concept, process, and storytelling over perfection.
Because I also care about product and interior design, this felt like a chance to blend historical influence with digital skill-building. And since I love photography, I was especially excited to treat the final render like a photoshoot, thinking about lighting, angles, and presentation.
History
The piece is based on Daniel Spoerri’s Kichka’s Breakfast I (1960) (pictured on the left), part of his snare-pictures series. Spoerri collected and fixed everyday breakfast objects—like dishes and silverware—precisely as they were left, and mounted them vertically as art. His work, rooted in Nouveau Réalisme and Dada, encourages viewers to reflect on time, routine, and consumer culture. By transforming the ordinary into something worthy of attention, he blurred the lines between life and art.
Process
I began by modeling the larger scene in Blender, sculpting key elements like bowls, a cooking pot, cloth, and chair details. Sculpting the cloth by hand (rather than using a texture) gave the piece a more natural, personal touch.
Texturing and UV wrapping were time-intensive, especially scaling labels for the can to look accurate, but worth the effort. I lit the scene using an HDRI with an infinity backdrop to give it the clean, almost photographic look of a gallery setup.
Steps
Modeled basic forms
Sculpted details and organic shapes
UV unwrapped and textured key elements
Built lighting setup and backdrop
Final renders treated like product photography
Reflection
I’m proud of how this piece turned out, especially the modeling, lighting, and how much I learned through problem-solving. This project deepened my understanding of texture mapping, sculpting organic materials, and the importance of how a piece is presented. It also reminded me how concept-driven work can be just as impactful as perfectly polished design.
Blending historical context with digital tools made the project more meaningful. It reminded me that everyday objects, when framed intentionally, can hold weight, memory, and beauty.
