Cultural Imagery 5. 3D-Printed Death Masks by Neri Oxman

Neri Oxman’s installation derives from the ancient practice of creating death masks for the deceased, exploring the transitions and stages that take place through the past (birth), the present, and the future (death). Created by data, the structures take inspiration from natural forms, minerals, and the wearer’s final breath, to form an intriguing twist on something that scares us all.

“Each mask represents an imaginary martyr going through a metamorphosis from life to death or death to life.”

Cultural Imagery 2. Room Tone by Hussein Chayalan, SS17

Room Tone presents two pieces of wearable technology, wired to be responsive to the wearers’ emotional state by monitoring stress levels through heart rate. Reminding us of our lack of privacy and overwhelming surveillance state, the pieces reflect the anxieties of city life, and project these in video format to those around the wearer.

Feeling trapped during rush hour or running to catch a tube, all while constantly repressing these emotions so we don’t stand out too much, Chayalan’s accessories reveal all to the outer world.

Cultural Imagery 1. Mimus by Madeline Gannon

An industrial robot that senses human presence and follows you with its gaze, Mimus is a reactionary piece that comments on our current fear artificial intelligence. The robot appears sentient and curious about its surroundings, something unexpected and somewhat unnerving for the viewer.

Exploring the relationship between humans and robots, the piece invites us to project and share emotion with something we would otherwise consider anti-human, with a lack of consciousness.

“I wanted to show that robots could be a companion species. We might overcome our anxiety by establishing a bond with the machines.”

Exhibition Visit. Fear + Love: Reactions to a Complex World, at the Design Museum.

The Fear + Love exhibition concentrates on portraying issues within modern culture through contemporary design. From the fear of the unknown and artificial intelligence, to the ever-concerning anxieties found within our growing cities, the exhibition features a range of installations that artfully depict the way in which we live now.