Daniel 's Slave of house model

thingiverse

I began working with 3D printing with the dream of creating something directly impacting people's everyday lives. Crafting a simple "yes or no" and "love sex" model was entertaining, but it was merely a word-based creation. I sought to push myself by experimenting with visual projects instead. Currently in Hong Kong, one pressing concern is the escalating housing prices. Most ordinary individuals cannot afford the mortgage on their own income alone, making homeownership feel like a life-long commitment. Luckier folks might just manage to cover the costs through mortgage payments - but that's as far as it goes. In an effort to connect 3D printing with something relevant, I've set out to create a model addressing this exact issue. Using software like 123D, I designed a man grasping two houses in his hands, depicting the strain of owning property on an individual. He appears frail and struggles to maintain his grip - much like people become slaves to their homes. The house used in this model can be found online at Thingiverse (http://www.thingiverse.com/make:71648), scaled down by 50%. I discovered that it's both simple to print and richly detailed. What gives the design different undertones, though, is how one positions objects on his hands: A cat in place of a house symbolizes being dominated by domestic obligations. Adding words reading "girlfriend" signifies dependence on one's significant other. Repositioning them with "woman," then, indicates that excessive focus on material wealth can be an overwhelming burden.