Unicef and Domestic Data Streamers have collaborated with BCN3D to create an art installation depicted in the streets of Paris in the form of 3-D printed busts to raise social awareness of the issues children face as a result of the mental health pandemic and social stigma.

To recognise the complexities of anxiety, stress and depression caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, Unicef approached creative agency Domestic Data Streamers with a detailed report on the number of children suffering from these disorders in France. Domestic Data Streamers took this information and created 10 busts of real children for a thought-provoking art installation in the streets of Paris.

With millions of people around the world experiencing feelings stemming from these new non-pandemic situations, Unicef and Domestic Data Streamers agreed that it was time to take a stand, ensuring that children will be part of the debate at the World Mental Health Summit 2021 in Paris.

Busts of ten children with various mental health problems were 3-D printed by BCN3D, each representing the estimate of 100,000 young people aged 15-24 suffering from anxiety or depression in France.

Martina Nadal, head of social impact at Domestic Data Streamers, said: “Normally, we do tributes to kings and queens and old people and conquerors. We thought it would be a beautiful idea to pay tribute to all these young people who have suffered in particularly difficult conditions during the Covid-19 pandemic.”

For three days, they decided to tackle the social stigma of mental health by taking the installation to the streets to make it visible and accessible to everyone, as mental health is something that affects all ages. The installation not only appealed to the public, but specifically targeted policy makers at the summit as they entered.

The 3-D printed parts were accompanied by volunteers, who told real stories of their own experiences with mental health struggles in the hope that their own experiences could help others. The volunteers addressed a wide range of issues, including racism, cyberbullying and the pressures of having such a busy school schedule that they lacked the time to really get to know each other.

For this project, time was of the essence, as was attention to detail. 3-D printing provided the fast turnaround they were looking for, without compromising the quality that could be achieved for replicas of the real children's faces.

As Domestic Data Streamers have worked previously with BCN3D and used the company‘s 3-D printers for their prototyping, testing and production processes, made use of the Epsilon W50 print fleet at the former’s Barcelona offices. The busts were printed in ABS to achieve a smooth finish and then painted in bright colours.

Natalia Santolaria, creative director of Domestic Data Streamers"We chose to use colours in the installation, firstly because although mental health is a really serious topic we wanted it to be cheerful because it speaks of childhood, and also because this way we could represent diversity.”

The images of these busts boldly placed against the backdrop of Parisian monuments were certainly not to be missed. The conversations held, combined with Domestic Data Streamer’s innovation with new technologies and Unicef’s ongoing efforts to promote understanding of mental health issues, will surely continue to spread far and wide.