SKORPIONS are a collection of kinetic electronic garments that use the shape-memory alloy Nitinol to move and change on the body in slow, organic motions. They have anthropomorphic qualities and can be imagined as parasites that inhabit the skin of the host. They are living behavioral kinetic sculptures that exploit characteristics such as control, anticipation, and unpredictability. SKORPIONS integrate electronic fabrics, soft circuits, custom circuit boards, Nitinol, mechanical actuators such as magnets, and traditional textile construction techniques. The cut of the pattern, the seams, and other construction details become an important component of engineering design. SKORPIONS are not interactive: their programming does not respond to sensor data. SKORPIONS reference the history of garments as instruments of pain and desire. They shift and modulate personal and social space by imposing physical constraints on the body. They alter behavior, by hiding or revealing hidden layers, inviting others inside the protective shells of fabric, erecting breathable walls, or tearing themselves open to divulge hidden secrets.
XS Labs is a Montreal-based design research studio with a focus on innovation in the fields of electronic textiles, reactive garments, and wearable computing. We look at both the technical and the cultural history of how textiles have been made for generations (weaving, stitching, embroidery, knitting, beading, quilting) but use materials with different electro-mechanical properties, which enables us to construct more complex textiles with electronic properties. http://www.xslabs.net
|
