Electroless gold-plated sculpture
Backlight is a demonstration of electroless metal plating by Tony Wurman of New York-based Wunderwurks. In contrast to conventional electrolytic processes, electroless plating uses a nongalvanic chemical plating method involving multiple reactions in an aqueous solution without external electrical power. Electroless plating can provide decorative and protective finishes for many materials, including metal, wood, glass, plastic, stone, fiberglass, ceramics, and even fabrics.
Wurman’s gold-plated light sculpture of a human spine cast in urethane resin demonstrates that the electroless process is highly cost effective compared to conventional electroplating and vacuum metallizing and is not limited to the itemís size, design, or surface characteristics. Moreover, the electroless-plated object’s finished surface will accept conventional paints to enable striping, accenting with graphics, or airbrushing.
Contact: Coat of Chrome, Wind Gap, PA, USA.
For more information, see Transmaterial 2: A Catalog of Materials That Redefine our Physical Environment
