Thingiverse Mashups

Remix culture can encourage innovation through deriving ideas from one

another. By borrowing ideas or materials from previous work, great depth can be added to

a piece of art or design. The additional context of the previous work can make an art piece

more effective. In this exercise, I experiment with the use of contrasting ideas to

create juxtaposition in my "mashups."

For my first mashup, I chose this hand and computer.

My reason behind combining these two objects was their contrast in organic and

inorganic shapes and textures, and the conceptual difference between natural and artificial.

Put together, these objects bring to mind horror media or something unnerving as a hand

emerges from the screen.

Thing files for iPhone hand by John-010 - Thingiverse

Thing files for FWW RobCo computer by SebTheis - Thingiverse

I chose these objects (a cat head and an entire dog body) to combine into something

slightly creepy. On their own, these models are a little cute, but being combined together

at the neck creates the suggestion of mutation. The contrasting ideas I wanted to combine

for this mashup were simply a cat vs a dog.

Thing files for Sphynx Cat head by Lutezia - ThingiverseThing files for Sphynx Cat head by Lutezia - Thingiverse

Thing files for Dog by MustangDave - Thingiverse

This idea uses similarly contrasting themes as my first mashup.

I used a rubber duck and a human face. The contrasting ideas I wanted to use were a

difference in scale, natural vs synthetic, and alive vs. inanimate. Together, they create a

creepy combination of ideas, especially because the human face is so black and doll-like. 

Face by MrCohen - Thingiverse

Thing files for Rubber Duck by willie - Thingiverse

In this mashup, I combined a fantasy-style dagger and a cute hamster model.

The biggest contrasting ideas that I was playing with were the difference in detail in

each object, and the opposing settings each could be found in. The hamster being more

simple and more rounded makes the contrast funny. 

Thing files for Teddy Bear Waving Hi! by bubblepins - 

Thing files for Orcish Dagger by Hello5777 - Thingiverse

My favorite mashup is this snail and a human skull. I wanted to combine

these two because the shapes are very similar but the objects themselves are rarely

seen together, and they contrast by being vulnerable vs threatening. Together I think this

combination is eerie and cool, and especially cohesive because of the similar shape involved.

Snail by 3D-mon - Thingiverse

Thing files for Skull by trailogy - Thingiverse

This mashup of a T-Rex head, car, and electrical post is anachronistic and fun.

The only major contrasting ideas are the past vs the present, and that’s why I chose

to combine these items. The result implies a dinosaur rampage in the modern world. 

Thing files for REALISTIC TREX HEAD by akyvanpelt - Thingiverse

Thing files for Antique Car by RobbinsvilleHighSchool - Thingiverse

https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4693964

This simple mashup has a cupcake’s topping’s switched out for an eyeball.

The reason it works is that the eye is similar in shape to a usual topping like a cherry,

and the contrast of playful and dangerous, delicious and disgusting. In combination,

these items create a creepy mashup.

Thing files for Eyeball by vinnivanhood - Thingiverse

Thing files for Actual Cupcake by erewinweik - Thingiverse

This combination of two action heroes and a hoard of spiders was composed

to show contrasting scale. I wanted to switch the size of these objects to emphasize

the differences between them and the result is a fantasy-adventure scene of the heroes

facing off against enemy spiders. 

Thing files for Spider by Misfit410 - Thingiverse

Thing files for Tifa Lockhart Final Fantasy VII by boris3dstudio - Thingiverse

Geralt of Rivia statue by boris3dstudio - Thingiverse

I combined a zombie head and a bouquet of roses

to make something both ugly and beautiful. The other contrasting ideas

are life vs death and growth vs decay. Together they come off as a bad thing being

overtaken by regrowth and create an object that is surprisingly a little more positive

than each on their own. 

Thing files for Zombie Cup of Doom by shawngrimes - Thingiverse

Printable Rose Flower by Jerrill - Thingiverse

For this final mashup, I chose to combine a fire truck and a fire-breathing dragon.

At first, it was mostly about the firetruck being set ablaze, but then the dragon added

another couple of contrasting ideas: fantasy vs. reality or medieval times vs. modern day.

Together they create an amusing object and scene.

Thing files for Fire Truck by P6619 - Thingiverse

https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3682590/files

https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2830828/files