"Dhamuw Koedal" by Alick Tipoti - Photogrammetry

This model with 16 individual canoes took a significant amount of time to turn around. Each canoe was photographed individually, and each needed to be set up twice to scan the top and bottom. The two sides were then reconstructed in reality capture using the masking featured in the software. The canoes were strung up on the frame to also capture the small beads attached to the thin rope as the rope could not be removed. I captured the rope using photometric stereo techniques and made this into a tiling texture (Y only). All of the rope sections are two single-sided planes that are then crossed. All the clean-up work was done in Zbrush, where I removed all the rope sections so each canoe was only comprised of the boat and beads. The rope was added in at the end. Overall, this was an amazing opportunity to scan a unique artwork and expand my knowledge of new scanning techniques.

Artist and work information:
Kala Lagaw Ya language

Badu Island, Torres Strait, Qld

Alick Tipoti (born 1975)

Matini Tipoti (born 1979)

Dagum Tipoti (born 2003)

Teono Leni Tipoti (born 2005)

Alick Tipoti Jr (born 2009)

Kowsa Tipoti (born 2014)

16 Canoes 2023

fibreglass resin, stain, paint, raffia, beads 150 x 290 x 140 cm (overall)

Wini arrived on Badhu [Badu Island] in the late 1830s in a boat after having, by his own account, killed his three companions. Over time he became a leader, gaining ascendancy by procuring the death of his principal enemies and intimidating others, leading to the establishment of his fame as a warrior. He later had several wives, a canoe and some property in land, the cultivation of which he paid great attention to. Wini with 16 Badhulgal canoes went in search of Barbara Thompson – a castaway of five years on Muralag [Prince of Wales Island].

Wandjuk Marika Memorial 3D Award (Sponsored by Telstra)