Lexus has collaborated with Bratislava-based research and design studio Crafting Plastics to create an installation that revolves around material objects. Dubbed Liminal Cycles, the creation is inspired by the all-electric Lexus LF-ZC (Lexus Future Zero Catalyst), implementing an abstract installation that explores the various senses and elements of a vehicle. This is in tune with the brand’s AI-driven software.

The mesmerizing kinetic structure is a layered skeletal made out of 3D-printed bioplastic (called Nuatan) in the shape of LF-ZC’s body. This installation designed by Germane Barnes, Michael Bennett (Studio Kër), Suchi Reddy, and Tara Sakhi is on display at the sculpture garden of the Institute of Contemporary Art, Miami. This breathable sculpture acknowledges the adaptability and responsive technology of the developing concepts of SDVs (Software Defined Vehicles) that envision the software-enabled customization of luxury vehicles.

Designer: Lexus and Crafting Plastics

The culmination of automotive technology and global art and design audience, the installation is a first mover advantage in the “bold and uncompromised experiences for the next generation,” according to Lexus’ press release. This 1:1 version of the real thing is not harsh to the environment in any way as the bioplastic material is based on 100% renewable resourcing with no traces of microplastics left behind. To enhance the dynamism of the sculpture it is coated with UV-responsive material skin. Thus, it reacts to environmental stimuli including changing position of lights, the intensity of UV radiations, or the viewer’s proximity. Based on these dynamic changes the sculpture can expand or contract in real-time, just like breath-like movements, thus representing the harmony between nature and technology.

Along with the replica of the LF-ZC, there are three complementing satellite installations that incorporate the design elements of the car to showcase the sensory inputs ranging from audio and visual cues. One of them is a flower-like sculpture representing the futuristic steering wheel of the car in a rugged earthy texture. It reacts to the user’s touch, responding with fluctuation in the volume and intensity of the sound composition. The second complementing installation is a reinterpretation of the headrest that emanates a Lexus-inspired perfume in response to the user’s interaction. The last one is a wind-activated lattice-like sculpture that responds to any active stimuli to reveal the brand’s logo, owing to the sensitivity of the bioplastic material in response to the shift in UV radiation.

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Furniture can be made from any material, with the only requirement that it should be strong enough to serve its purpose. Wood is the most common choice and one that’s beloved by designers, but there are also a number that are made of metal or even glass. There is also furniture made from plastic, though these bear the stigma of not only being cheap in terms of cost but also in quality and durability. Of course, not all plastic is made equal, and some perform better than others. And depending on how you actually use the material, they can look as plain or as luxurious as you can make them. This furniture collection, for example, looks like it has been carefully carved out of blocks of ice, but if you’ve been following the flow so far, then you’d probably guess they’re made from plastic and handcrafted plastic at that.

Designer: Kasper Kyster

Despite the harm they pose to the environment, plastic is still a common sight in many products. They’re cheap to make and easy to work with, which is why they’re used in mass-production pipelines. You’d almost be crazy to manually form the plastic by yourself, but it’s that inspired insanity that brought these beautiful masterpieces to life.

The project, called “Crafting Plastic,” is meant to challenge the way the material is perceived or even utilized. Rather than going through a machine or even a 3D printer, sheets of PETG plastic are cut into small sizes, heated with a heat gun, and then bent and shaped by hand. The pieces are turned into tubes that can be flattened, folded, and bent to create the classic forms of furniture. It’s definitely a painstaking method that won’t scale well, but it definitely serves its purpose, proving that plastic is not as simple as we presume it to be.

The result is a unique aesthetic that, on the one hand, looks like transparent glass but, on the other hand, also resembles sculpted ice with its imperfections and rough surfaces. It has an element of delicateness that almost makes you hesitant to even touch it, let alone put some weight on the pieces to actually use them for the furniture that they are. Fortunately, the lamps in the collection are fully functional without requiring interaction, though they may have also been the most difficult to make. The folds of the plastic pipes have to be done in a certain way and direction to make sure that light actually passes through.

It’s probably for the best that these pieces of furniture are more artistic and not easily replicated because, after all, they are made from plastic. There is some amount of recycled plastic but it’s kept at a low percentage in order to retain the material’s structural rigidity and stability. Hopefully, the eye-catching and thought-provoking design will inspire more experimentation on the use of plastic in furniture that will take into account not only functionality and beauty but also sustainability.

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