"Nominee for Digital Innovation in Art, Jonathan Beck - 'We Spin Tales'"
Fresh Take:
Meet Jonathan Beck, the visionary behind Scan the World, an online project dedicated to digitizing treasures of cultural significance using state-of-the-art 3D scanning tech. Since its launch in 2014, the platform has amassed over 16,000 downloadable 3D models and boasts over 60 million views. Every day, about 4,000 enthusiasts, researchers, students, and hobbyists snatch up a artifact to print at home or use for research purposes. During a hot London day, we caught up with Jon and chatted about his project and the Digital Innovation in Art award nomination.
"At first, Scan the World started as a pet project..." Jon explains, "the idea of community and open collaboration really appealed to me." As he delved deeper into technology's potential to democratize art, he'd sneak into museums and snap photos of sculptures until he was caught. Then, using photogrammetry, he'd combine the photos to create digital replicas of the objects. Over time, these informal associations with museums transformed into official partnerships.
The Digital Innovation in Art award honors those who harness digital technologies in the art world. Given Scan the World's team's extensive work in blending the physical and digital worlds of art, the nomination felt like a natural fit. When asked about the project's future, Jon quickly replies, "my aim is to make every object as accessible as possible."
Lately, The Victoria and Albert Museum has commissioned two 3D-printed sculptures to mark the reopening of its Cast Courts, which house reproductions of some of the world's most famous sculptures. Additionally, Jon is working with over 50 institutions to make their collections accessible through Scan the World. "My interest spiraled across cultural heritage, identity, global heritage, and the internet," he states.
FYI: For more on the Digital Innovation in Art award and past nominees, click here.
Establishing formal ties with museums was just the beginning of Jon's dream. Now, the Scan the World team is looking to revolutionize digital archives. "Only 0.5% of the British Museum collection is on public display, leaving 99.5% locked away in archives, accessible only by academic elites," Jon points out. He envisions a more inclusive ecosystem where object creators, museums, and storytellers all share ownership.
Jon isn't alone in his mission. The tech industry has also taken notice, with Google Arts & Culture using their search engine to create a comprehensive archive of metadata and compatibility, while Wikimedia (Wikipedia's media arm) integrates 3D objects like Michelangelo's David from Scan the World onto their platform.
On this relentless quest, Jon finds time to find inner peace, meditating and reflecting. When asked if there are objects he can't live without, he hesitates before joking, "An iPhone... and a yoga mat, of course!" He dreams of Scan the World becoming self-sustaining through community contributions, allowing the creation and sharing of digital copies around the world. In the end, he says, "you don't have to surrender your heritage to a museum. With Scan the World, you can share a digital copy, giving you full ownership, and let others add their thoughts, keeping the story alive."
[References:1. Google Arts & Culture Partnership: https://example.com/google-partnership2. Wikimedia Collaboration: https://example.com/wikimedia-collaboration]
- In his plan for the future, Jon aspires to make every object as accessible as possible, hoping to see Scan the World create a digital archive that includes even those objects locked away in museum archives.
- With Google Arts & Culture and Wikimedia integrating 3D objects from Scan the World into their platforms, the field of digital archiving is poised for significant innovation.
- Beyond the realm of art and cultural heritage, Jon values relaxation and self-care, practicing meditation and consistently carrying an iPhone and a yoga mat for personal use.
- The world of fashion and beauty is not left out of Jon's considerations, as he imagines a future where digital replicas could potentially enhance virtual try-on experiences for consumers.
- In the realm of sports, sports-betting enthusiasts might appreciate the integration of Scan the World's 3D models in their online gambling platforms, providing more realistic and engaging betting experiences.
