Baby Virus｜2019
(with) A Warming World
Background
Two facts that inspired me to make this project:
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I saw a piece of news that says that global warming brings back to life those dormant ancient viruses and bacteria now residing under the cold, airless, dark permafrost soils and icebergs. It is no secret that climate change has spread illnesses such as West Nile virus, Zika, and malaria. Melting permafrost soils release ancient viruses that could cause rare illnesses or unleash other infectious agents.
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I want to test out a 3d scanner app.
Approach
Concept
Development
For most of us, the trash bin is the end of the consumption circle, thus taking us away from the greater responsibility of ecological crises. However, global warming is intimidating. So, I want to raise the thoughts and feelings of people of all generations, especially the youth, by providing a visual concept that might prepare them for handling a range of climate crises.
Having said that, I designed a “cute” virus by phone and made a handful of prototypes with model magic. I then used the 3D scanner app to capture the form and edit it in Blender. Then, I sent the file to a factory in Shenzhen, China. When I received it, I inflated it in the backyard-it was humongous.
Modeling&
Fabrication
Result
This project was commissioned by the City of Somerville, Massachusetts, for its annual ArtBeat Festival and HONK!, both of which draw thousands of visitors. I like that people shared their climate resolutions.I don’t have an exact attendance count, but it was definitely a blockbuster—tons of kids stopped and tried to climb on it.
