Van Gogh’s Ear Re-Created With The Use Of His DNA And A 3D Printer

Bruce Louis for Art-Sheep

A team of scientists and artist Diemut Strebe have managed to grow a clone of the most famous ear in the world: Vincent van Gogh’s ear.

artist-has-grown-van-goghs-ear-with-DNA-and-a-3D-printer-designboom-02

They achieved this by extracting DNA material from a living relative of the Dutch painter, the great-great grandson of his brother Theo. Incorporating also engineered components, Strebe and his team of scientists used a 3D printer and computer imaging technology to mold the cells into being identical with van Gogh’s ear, which he famously self-severed in 1888. The project is called “Sugababe”, is ongoing and was exhibited at ZKM Karlsruhe, Germany last year. The visitors were able to speak to the ear via a microphone system and during the opening of the show on 30 May, 2014, Noam Chomsky was the first to speak to the replica. The sound is processed by a computer software which attempts to reproduce the action of hearing by converting the noise in order to simulate real-time nerve impulses. Although, the voice of the speaker is never really heard by the ear, which only makes a breaking sound, having as result for absence instead of presence to be laid out.

artist-has-grown-van-goghs-ear-with-DNA-and-a-3D-printer-designboom-01

140603-van-gogh-ear-1452_bb9f7496fdf8ba8e3703c60ebb378c4f

via designboom

Art-Sheep is a highly respected, high-authority platform known for delivering original, quality content across a wide range of topics. With +13 years of experience and a loyal readership with an avarage of 1.5 million monthly views, our commitment to credible, engaging articles has earned us a trusted reputation among readers making us a go-to source for insightful, impactful content.