Although decolonisation has become a cause célèbre throughout the Western cultural sphere, Replica - Relic questions institutions’ commitment to rectifying historical injustice. Focusing on the British Museum and its collection of antiquities—many of them “acquired” via colonial violence—the work not only rejects the museum’s custodial authority, but forcefully repatrates these objects.
Without consent from the museum, Dania visited the premises and surreptitiously took 3D scans of several Mesopotamian artefacts. Those scans then became the building blocks for a series of 5 custom-built musical instruments which will be at the core of the Replica - Relic performance.
In 2025 Dania will present this work in conjunction with creative director Mau Morgó. Dania will tap into the sonic memories embedded within these objects, reanimating voices and invoking the landscapes from which they came.
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Object 1 — Midi Instrument — Statue circa 2112 A.C. - 2095 A.C
Fig 1: Image British Museum
Fig 2: 3D mesh public domain.
Fig 3: 3D print.
Fig 4: Mold creation for final ceramic replica.
Object 2 — Midi Instrument — Tablet circa 2094BC-2047BC
Fig 1: Image British Museum
Fig 2: 3D mesh I capture on iPhone
Fig 3: 3D print.
Fig 4: Mold creation for final ceramic replica.
Object 3 — Resonant ceramic percussive instrument — Mace Head: Early Dynastic III
Fig 1: Image British Museum
Fig 2: 3D mesh I captured on iPhone
Fig 3: STL file close up for 3D print.
Fig 4: STL file.
Fig 5: Prototype 1.
Fig 6: Final prototypes. Two of these ceramic instruments will be produced.
Object 4 — Midi Instrument — Statue: circa 2000 A.C. -1750 A.C.
Fig 1: Image British Museum
Fig 2: 3D mesh I capture on iPhone
Fig 3: Editing of mesh
Fig 4: Final 3D print.
Object/Instrument 6 — Box (for hydrophone) - Box 2600BC-2400BC
Fig 1. Image British Museum
Fig 2: 3D mesh I captured on iPhone
Fig 3: Editing of 3D mesh
Fig 4. Final print (extreme right), detailed image forthcoming.
Credits:
Ceramics by Helena Civit Kopeinig
Arduino/Programming Nico Saganias
3D printing Dania Shihab
STL reconstruction assistance Abishav Singh
Photos of 3D printed objects Cecilia Diaz Betz
Live Visuals Mau Morgo