Where modern technology meets ancient art

In a Madrid workshop, the staff of Factum Arte uses scans of archaeological masterpieces to create exacting facsimiles that have both the look and feel of the originals. Seth Doane talks with Adam Lowe, who sees the Factum Foundation's work as crucial to the preservation of timeless treasures, from the ancient tomb of the Egyptian Pharaoh Seti I, to a Renaissance masterpiece in the Louvre.
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[@nickmarruffo5851]

This is amazing imagine being able to re-create things that are across the world but they could travel for people that cannot go to the original location to see how amazing

[@katrussell6819]

I find it fascinating to see reproductions of old Tombs, Mayan or Eqyptian, or whatever, as they were when newly created. This tech may protect many sacred and fragile places.

[@lyledeyounges1276]

Absolutely incredible! He's makes a very good point about the tombs of ancient Egypt, and what a great way to make it possible for people to physically go see them - without damaging the real ones. At the same time I can't help but wonder what it will do to art, if (more likely "when") once this becomes commercialised on a big scale - when everyone can buy an exact copy of a masterpiece for nothing, licensed by Wallmart or something... once huge industrial printers spew out copies of everything, in perfect detail, the appreciation for something made by human hands could suffer... but I'll admit I would be first in line to buy facsimiles of ancient Egyptian artefacts in a "buy 1, get 1 free" sales promotion at my local megastore.

[@___beyondhorizon4664]

My visit to the Valleys of the King's in sept2021 gave me a different prospective. The tombs are for visitors on an alternate rotation, for example, my ticket that day allows for 2 big tombs+a small tombs. Each tomb oxygen levels are monitor, the more visitors inside,the more damage it cause. For example, tourist visiting the following week will be touring 3 other tombs, but Ramsey s tomb is always popular. The guards inside were aggressively offering information & offered to take pictures for touritt in exchange for tips. During the 103F heat, all temples,tombs can be similar after a few days. I saw 1 older guy refused to his tour bus for the AC, he couldn't take the heat and hours of walking, that was the Karneck temple at Luxor. I support this idea of producing high quality replica of ancient artifacts, which allows access to people who can't travel to the ancient sites, as long as they don't charge a large sum. For example if they charge $50 ticket to see a Mona Lisa replica, but the ticket to the musee du Louvre or D'Osay we're 12euro ( when I visited), then thats wrong. I don't think we'll get to the point of buying replica at Walmart or something, it'll be copyright etc. Years ago,I wanted to color copy the poster of Michelle Angelo's Sisten chapel, a copy for my friend, Kinko said they cannot copy it.

[@terrijudisch2860]

This is a way to preserve art work in case it is damaged by man or nature.

[@robertafierro5592]

Those Burial.Rooms in Setis Tomb are just awesome!!

[@___beyondhorizon4664]

Some people can't travel there, and withstand the 100F heat to walk downward to the long stairs to see the real tombs, and be aggressively approach by the guards asking for tips... So, a high quality replica is just a good experience. In Florence, the David replica are at a few town squares, where the original David is inside the museum.

[@johnmiller9302]

Beautiful work and well done!!

[@bonnierobinson8684]

Wonderful report, thank you!

[@michaelhope8899]

Some incredible, pioneering work right here

[@nicksproiggeit8707]

I would love to do this kind of preservation one day in future.

[@daimonmarioperez9501]

A church is meant to be visited. A museum is meant to be visited. A tomb was not meant to be visited. This is meant to preserve the original tombs and artifacts. People must stop thinking of only our lifetime. The Pharaoh's thought in the after life....

[@newtempphone-ash9507]

7:03 Wow!

[@annwilliams6438]

A tomb was meant to send the dead person to another life. :) Imagine if they could see the millions are lives they may now become part of! Immortality?

[@robertafierro5592]

Amazing!!

[@robertafierro5592]

Art Forgers always intrigued me..

[@susieenglish302]

This is tremendous. A way to preserve the past so we can still explore it in the future

[@corinneanderson1273]

Interesting work.

[@Larry21924]

Your narrative is compelling; mirrors the depth of a book I highly recommend. "The Art of Meaningful Relationships in the 21st Century" by Various Authors

[@debbralehrman5957]

Amazing what a great idea.

[@joec.9591]

It's also important to consider that every year, the world loses art due to pollution, conflict, natural disasters, and just plain time. There are not enough art conservationists to keep up with the amount of art fading away. Tombs, especially, are degrading at a staggering rate. Very soon there will be nothing left to see. The only way to try preserve much of what's being lost is to seal it back up again. This is a creative and innovative way to preserve what we have now so that it can still be appreciated in the future.

[@gordonadams5891]

Too bad they couldn't have done this with artifacts in Afghanistan before the Taliban destroyed them. In such cases this technology is a godsend.

[@carmelcapricorn7701]

A work of art. Timeless.🎨⏳💛💖 Imitation is a form of flattery. I love the old 🏫. I got 💘 4 the new 🏫 2.

[@paulfasse8032]

Genius

[@auntvesuvi3872]

💜

[@manuellubian5709]

My only criticism is, IF he has all this "technology" and you, "want everyone to be able to see the works of beauty....as they were" why are they NOT using their genius to repair, or otherwise fill-in all the chipped, missing, or pockmarked areas so that visitors can see completed works?

[@schristy3637]

I look at this type of work for the purpose of saving nations national landmarks. Not to deceive people. Plus for the millions of people. Who will never have the money to go see the actual places and art work. Strange?? No one cried deception or thief. When Andy Warhol took another person work( Campbell's Soup Cans), and made a bunch of money. Off another artist work.

[@iamisobe]

so it's basically an NFT

[@anotherbutt4chair56]

Gotta have a British accent if you want to look like a legit archeological person.

[@user-pl5us3pk1r]

What

[@SpiralBreeze]

So this is where you go to learn how to be a master forger. Got it.

[@Minecraft-fm5eg]

It seems that traditional art is dying ,maybe one day I can no longer see traditional art.

[@susettesantiago5509]

I assume they have to pay Egypt for the appropriation of their culture...or will they do like France...England and other countries that plundered and stole and devastated other cultures...if you don't have an extensive history or culture it does not give you license to do the same....but I understand the need for humanity to look to Africa for all of its cultural origins....Africa is the cradle of humanity...the cradle of civilization...the cradle of culture...

[@stephanietaylor2144]

Susette Santiago these pieces are NOT fakes- they are authorized copies! Made to preserve the original artifact, not fool anyone. These masterpieces belong to all humanity and deserve to be shared and treasured!

[@annwilliams6438]

Yeah, just send everything back to some squabbling tribal overlord in Africa and hope to go and visit it there…? Or do you only mean to the modern Egyptians? Good luck to you. (Oh, and by the way - I AM an African… born, bred and living on this continent - a few miles away from the ‘Cradle of Mankind’ world heritage site actually. Would I like to see copies of things made and internet shows of artefacts? You are darn right I would! Keep going please.)

[@404BOOMER]

No originality. Only a copy. Yeah they did a fantastic job making a fake but I have no desire to see a fake. I don't like the idea of technology making art without soul.

[@jokinboken]

Who do you think created the technology, or decides how it's used? Robots?

[@404BOOMER]

It's still a copy and the copy is nothing compared to the original. Doesn't matter who created the technology. Now if they used the technology to make an original piece of art then I would say wow.

[@steven_003]

@@404BOOMER These are also made for research.

[@annwilliams6438]

More snobs with access to originals and no thought for the millions of people going on into the future who will have the chance of experiencing something almost the same that they would never have had the chance to otherwise… and it allows for the originals to be better protected and preserved.

[@Alexander-rq9he]

The “fantastic monster” is utterly disgusting and is not art at all…just weirdness that everyone thinks is art. 🤮

[@robertafierro5592]

The Ultimate Reproduction!

[@nicknika490]

Blah. Not impressed. There are artists who would love to spend a lifetime recreating lost artifacts with there eye to hand human mechanics called talent.

[@Awibrahor]

Blah, I disagree. What artists produce is always an interpretation, never a fully accurate reproduction. Here I don’t care about the abilities of modern artists, I care about the work that was created by the ancient artists. This is about preserving their work with total accuracy, thanks to science.