From Antiquity to Expo Osaka: Campania’s Archaeological Heritage Statues Reborn in 3D between Japan and Italy

From Antiquity to Expo Osaka: Campania’s Archaeological Heritage Statues Reborn in 3D between Japan and Italy

A journey through classical art and contemporary innovation:
At the heart of a project that bridges art, technology, and heritage enhancement, some of the most iconic masterpieces preserved by the National Archaeological Museum of Naples have been brought to life through an extraordinary process of reinterpretation and reconstruction using 3D printing.

On the occasion of the completion of the new Baia station—located along the Cumana railway line connecting the center of Naples (Montesanto station) with the Phlegraean Fields (Torregaveta station), a renowned thermal destination in Roman times—EAV (Ente Autonomo Volturno), the public company implementing the Campania Region’s railway development and modernization projects, has welcomed and supported the proposal to enrich the station with an artistic installation inspired by the history of the area.
The artistic concept includes full-scale 1:1 reproductions of statues excavated in the Phlegraean region, whose originals are housed at the National Archaeological Museum of Naples. This intervention merges public transportation with cultural heritage enhancement, transforming the station into not just a functional space, but also an identity-rich and symbolic place for the community.

The entire new station in Baia was conceived as a narrative introduction for travelers, evoking the history of the area through architectural choices, materials, textures, colors, and references to local ancient architecture. The artistic installation unfolds along the station galleries with a sequence of backlit photographic images and texts, narrating the people, places, and events that shaped the region.
In scenic positions throughout the station, 3D-printed reproductions of statues discovered in the area have also been installed, created using the most advanced contemporary techniques.

The statues were selected not only for their artistic value but for their symbolic significance:

  • The two Dioscuri of Baia, dating to around the 2nd century AD, are mythological figures representing welcome, hospitality, and brotherhood. Discovered at different times in separate areas of the thermal complex, the statues underwent a long journey before being brought together at the Naples Archaeological Museum, where they now stand at the entrance of the section dedicated to Roman Campania.

  • The Aphrodite Sosandra ("the savior of men") is a 2nd-century marble copy of a bronze Greek sculpture from 460 BC. It was originally placed in the thermal baths bearing her name. This statue symbolizes the myth of Venus, the Roman counterpart of the Greek Aphrodite, born from the sea foam—aphros in Greek, from which her name derives. The Baia version is among the most famous and refined copies.

  • Four marble busts, also from the Baia baths, support the hypothesis that the site once served as an imperial residence (Palatium) during the early centuries of the Roman Empire. The busts represent: Plotina (wife of Emperor Trajan), Matidia (Trajan’s niece), Emperor Hadrian, and Emperor Antoninus Pius.

  • The head of Apollo is a 2nd-century marble replica of a Greek original by the renowned sculptor Kalamis, also unearthed in the Baia baths.

The 3D reproduction project began with high-precision 3D scanning of the original artworks. Using advanced instruments, every geometric and surface detail of the sculptures was captured—from the folds of garments to the subtle features of the faces. This stage was essential to develop accurate digital models that both faithfully preserve the shape of the artifacts and enable long-term analysis and conservation.

Once the 3D models were obtained, a digital formalization phase followed. The files were cleaned, optimized, and processed to be suitable for 3D printing. This phase demanded great expertise and cross-disciplinary skills, as it involved refining the geometry to reduce weight, planning modular divisions for assembly, and simulating material behavior during printing. The design also had to meet technical and logistical requirements for physical production.

Printing was carried out using next-generation additive manufacturing technologies, capable of reproducing complex forms with high fidelity and definition. The statues were printed layer by layer, with continuous quality control and optimization of production parameters. The resulting parts were assembled by hand, refined through sanding and filling techniques, and finally painted with special coatings to recreate textures and depths similar to those of the original materials.

The final outcome is not just a faithful reproduction but a standalone artwork, capable of offering new experiences of access and storytelling. These digital copies open up the ancient heritage to a broader audience, enhance educational and inclusive activities (especially for visually or physically impaired individuals), and present new possibilities for preventive conservation and museum communication.

These statues, realized through a process of innovation and heritage synergy, will debut at Expo Osaka 2025, inside the Italy Pavilion designed by Mario Cucinella Architects. As part of the official participation of the Campania Region, they will feature in an exhibition dedicated to archaeology and volcanoes—an evocative narrative intertwining the region’s ancient history with its powerful natural identity.

After their showcase in Japan, the statues will return to their intended permanent home: the new Baia station, a symbolic location where contemporary mobility meets historical memory. This gesture further confirms the project’s vocation as a bridge between epochs, cultures, and territories.

This initiative stands as a virtuous model of collaboration between technology and culture, giving new life to the ancient without compromising its identity. The interaction between 3D scanning, modeling software, additive manufacturing, and artisanal finishing has enabled a regenerative process that speaks equally to science and emotion. The Dioscuri, the Sosandra, the busts, and Apollo’s head now live a second life—suspended between past and future, between marble dust and pixels.

Credits

Work realized for the Baia Metro Station
Client: EAV – Ente Autonomo Volturno srl – Sole Shareholder: Campania Region – eavsrl.it

Construction Company: Ferrosud2 for ATI Costruire S.p.A. – I.G. S.p.A.
Artistic and architectural design direction: Studio ODA – Officina d’Architettura
Scientific consultancy: Prof. S. De Caro, Dr. P. Miniero
3D scanning and digitization: Prof. Arch. M. Campi, Arch. M. Camerino, Arch. V. Cera, Arch. M. Falcone – University of Naples Federico II, Department of Architecture (DIARC)
Statue production: Mediterranea Design Srl – Medaarch Srl STP
Finishing: Luigi Amorevole

Special thanks to:
Phlegraean Fields Archaeological Park: Dr. F. Pagano, Arch. M.P. Cibelli, Dr. E. Gallocchio
National Archaeological Museum (MANN): Dr. M. Osanna, Dr. L. Forte
Dr. T. Sarnataro

Back to blog

BACK TO BLOG