The sculpture The Line of Failure is a series that emerged from an intense and frustrating process with ceramic 3D printing. Artist Marion Abate not only documents her technical difficulties in attempting to print a figure of Saint Wolfgang, but also transforms these failed attempts into artistic material.
Numerous prints collapsed, toppled over, or were incorrectly executed by the printer. Despite adjustments to wall thickness, infill structure, layer height, clay consistency, and software settings, success initially remained out of reach. However, none of the failed prints were discarded—instead, they were collected and ultimately became the starting point for the Line of Failure series. The misshapen, fragmentary clay bodies tell of the struggle with material and machine, forming a visible, aesthetic line of failure in space.
A deep black glaze is used as a key design element, emphasizing the rough surfaces of the failed forms while lending them a quiet dignity. This dark glaze enhances the emotional intensity of the series and underscores the seriousness of the artistic process. In combination with digital manufacturing, a dynamic interplay emerges between failure and creation, tradition and technology.
