OBSERVATIONS OF A HOPE ORGAN:
2025
(Embroidered Cotton, Fabric Dye, Silicon, PLA, Lasercut Acrylic, AirPump and Vacuum DC Motor, Crickit, CPE, Valve, Tubing)
Backstory:
Persimma Watts and Memphis O’Joule were exiled from their universe after helping spark a rebellion against an oppressive techno-theocratic empire. Cast beyond the edge of known reality into a place called the Abyss, they expected only death. Instead, they emerged in an entirely different world.
There they encountered the Kingdom of Nyumbani, a civilization descended from humanity but shaped by countless generations of divergent evolution. Rather than pursuing technological domination, the people of Nyumbani had developed their society through biological adaptation, cultivating eleven distinct human-derived species whose unique physiologies allowed them to thrive together.
Among Nyumbani’s greatest achievements was the art of organ weaving. Their surgeons could grow living organs and weave magic directly into their tissues, embedding abstract concepts, memories, and emotions into flesh itself.
With a background in biotechnology, Persimma devoted herself to mastering this practice. After years of study, she succeeded in crafting a synthetic organ of her own, choosing to weave the essence of hope into it. Once implanted, the organ allowed her to literally breathe hope into those around her.
This project depicts Persimma's organ as it is being developed.
Process:
Initial project mockups that included details like knobs to manually control breathing speed or a screen to show "diagnostics"
Layers of embroidered fabric and silicone were combined to build up the organ of woven flesh.
The breathing mechanism transformed from syringes while testing to the pump and valve system that was coded to breathe at different intervals.
I developed a script using Processing for the alien language. The "spell" (when read clockwise starting at the top) translates to:
Become a breath of fresh air
A spark of light in an otherwise dim world
Let hope wash over you
Carve out the light at the end of the tunnel
