SHAUL COHEN BRINGS EMOTION TO 3D-PRINTED WORKS

For many, 3D printing is still hard to understand, something that might be too futuristic. But in the hands of Israeli industrial designer and artist Shaul Cohen, co-owner of 3D Factory, the medium says nothing about the future. On the contrary, his creations are filled with nostalgia for the small moments in life.

Among his whimsical creations are Bauhaus Rings made with rocks from real Bauhaus buildings in Tel Aviv; Pillow IDF, an inflatable soldier’s beret, to make a quick nap much more comfortable; and Balata, a floor tileshaped piggy bank, for those who like to hide money in the floor.

However, he is best known for his Life in Snow Bubble series and Mini Buildings. Life in Snow Bubble presents nostalgic but very real elements of the Israeli landscape in a snow globe, without the snow. These are not your typical tourist snow globes. Instead of the Western Wall or Israel Museum, you will find a lottery kiosk, a bus stop, a beach lifeguard tower, and a street recycling garbage can. The globes are a picture-perfect view of Israel—colorful, but messy; beautiful, but aggressive.

For his Mini Buildings, Shaul creates models of real buildings in Israel using a 3D printer, but then hand paints them, adding humorous touches. The pieces are so uncannily accurate that it’s hard to believe they are not photo images of the originals. Shaul also accepts custom orders for models of childhood homes, first apartments purchased, and other buildings that hold special memories—sometimes good, sometimes bad, but always nostalgic.

Perhaps his most significant accomplishment is how Shaul uses a 3D printer to conjure powerful sentiments. His works can make you smile, for sure, like a feel-good movie, but they also take you on a journey—to your first home, to the smell of garbage cans on your old street, to the candy store at the end of the block—and that’s priceless. Shaul creates pieces that, although reflecting Israel, touch hearts around on the globe. And that is where art and design, when done right, can be magical.

To learn more about Shaul Cohen, check out his Instagram, or visit his website: shaulcohen.com.