OXMAN’s Vespers Hybrid III proposes a future where wearables and environments are crafted with biology, marking a shift in how we view life, death, and the materials that bridge them.
As the third installment of the Vespers series, this project explores living masks as enabling technologies that serve as habitats for synthetically engineered microorganisms. These microorganisms, in turn, create new life by producing pigments, vitamins, and antimicrobial agents—transforming the mask from a static artifact into a dynamic system of biological augmentation. In this hybrid space, the masks transition from vessels of death into literal platforms for the creation of new life.
At the heart of Vespers III lies a deep exploration of the intersection between synthetic biology, computational design, and digital fabrication. The masks, initially colorless, evolve as living microorganisms are spatially guided to produce pigments. This process harks back to the earlier stages of the series, where visual language and cultural motifs took precedence. Now, the final masks echo these original palettes not through artistic intent but through the actual biological processes of the microorganisms they house. This shift from representational to generative design signals a profound transition from human-made to biologically guided systems.
The project proposes an imminent future where design extends beyond aesthetic or functional considerations to include genetic and environmental adaptation. The masks of Vespers III are not mere symbols of life or death but biologically active interfaces that embody both. They blur the distinction between static artifact and living organism, suggesting a future where wearable technologies might detect contamination, produce custom antibiotics, or respond dynamically to environmental changes. This convergence of biology and technology points towards a future where architecture, medicine, and fashion can evolve to be more responsive, sustainable, and intertwined with natural systems.
A key innovation of the project is the introduction of Hybrid Living Materials, a novel class of materials that integrate designed features with biological properties. These materials allow for tight control over the interaction between synthetic and organic components. The implications are vast—ranging from cosmeceutical wearables that can generate custom compounds for the user’s skin to architectural skins that can adapt to environmental cues in real-time. Vespers III thus moves beyond the notion of designing static products toward a vision of dynamic, living systems that are customizable at a molecular level.
In essence, Vespers Hybrid III is not only a meditation on the cyclical nature of life and death but also a profound glimpse into the future of design. By integrating biology, technology, and computation, OXMAN redefines the possibilities of material culture in the Anthropocene. The project points towards a world where life itself becomes a design medium, reshaping the very interface between humans and their environment.
