Preserving our past has always been an essential aspect of human societies. In recent years, technology has opened up new ways to engage with history, where ancient artifacts are not only preserved but also reborn through modern innovation. The British Museum’s initiative to release 3D data of its vast collections under a Creative Commons license is a groundbreaking step. This data allows us to bring the past into the present—literally—via a 3D printer.
But this convergence of past and present raises compelling ethical questions: Can modern artists integrate these digital echoes of ancient art into their creations, especially when destined for commercial use?
The Creative Commons license permits adaptation and sharing, but only under non-commercial terms. This poses a significant dilemma for artists working within the commercial art world. The tension between copyright restrictions, ethical considerations, and artistic freedom forces us to grapple with the line between inspiration and appropriation.
The debate becomes even more complex when viewed through a historical lens. Many artifacts in the British Museum’s collection arrived through ethically questionable means—plunder, to put it bluntly. Could ignoring the CC license and using these digital relics in contemporary art be seen as a form of “plundering the plunder”? While some might frame this as a interesting Robin Hood-like scenario, it’s not a path I’m interested in pursuing. I deeply respect the work required to create high-quality 3D models—whether by hand or through scanning—and I believe the CC license they chose is appropriate and fair.
The first time I browsed the British Museum’s 3D data, I saw it as a remarkable opportunity to democratize art and culture. I was also tempted to download some files and integrate them into my projects. However, these files raised significant questions about how to responsibly handle such resources. How do we honor the cultural origins of these artifacts while integrating them into contemporary works? How do we balance innovation with respect for history? And of course, how do we navigate the constraints of the CC license?
This is when the idea of creating my own fictional museum began to take shape—a collection of artworks and artifacts, all made by me, but imbued with backstories and lore to feel as though they came from different eras and locations. Kura Curiosa invites participants to build narratives that bridge fictional epochs, integrating ancient relics into a futuristic cabinet de curiosités.
After some reflection, I decided to publish the elements of Kura Curiosa under a similarly restrictive Creative Commons license. People can freely download, remix, and share the models as long as it’s for non-commercial purposes. This approach not only democratizes access to art but also ensures a meaningful dialogue between creator and audience. Collaboration and reinterpretation are encouraged, but certain boundaries remain in place to protect the integrity of the work.
... Of course, in the fictional lore of Kura Curiosa, the story becomes far murkier.
God only knows how the enigmatic Owner gathered his collection and by what dubious means. :-)
--------
Some of the British Museum's 3D data is available there:
