The photographers would wear white jackets, subjects would have to sit still for long periods of time, and the process of creating the finished image required a wide range of chemicals and processes.

“It was as much science as it was photography,” explained artist Jesse Stevens.

Move forward about two centuries, and Stevens and his artistic partner Dean Petersen are recapturing the vibe of the daguerreotype in a distinctly modern way.

They wear white jackets and the subjects still have to remain motionless for a few minutes, but the method uses scanners, lap-tops and 3D printers to create the finished portrait.

Stevens and Petersen, aka Cake Industries, are scanning 15 influential locals to create little statuettes as part of the WAG’s Experimenta Recharge exhibition. 

The biennial exhibition is run by the curatorial group Experimenta, which selects artists and artworks exploring the intersection between art and technology. 

Stevens said the 3D portraits are made from bioplastic and will age and deteriorate if exposed to water and sunlight, – much like a photo.

When the exhibition has finished and Cake Industries move on to the next town, the subjects will be sent their statuettes to keep.

“We want them to be cherished items, like a photograph,” Stevens said.

They will be reprinted for a final exhibition displaying 150 statues from 10 locations made over two years.