Gallery: The Next Generation of the Death Mask Is Freakishly Beautiful
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Vespers is a new project from the MIT Media Lab's Mediated Matter Group and 3D printer manufacturer Stratasys.
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Death masks have traditionally been used to capture the visage of the recently dead.
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It's a reimagining of death masks.
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Instead of making the masks from plaster, as it has traditionally been done, Neri Oxman and her group 3-D printed the masks from resin.
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The exterior of the masks are smooth.
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While the interior is 3-D printed with different materiality and textures.
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Translucently colored resin.
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The masks' colors are meant to represent those used in religious rituals around the world.
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The masks from three angles.
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The interior of the masks are developed from the wearer's facial features.
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As well as the air flow of her last breath.
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Eventually, the channels on the interior will be used to guide microorganisms through the mask.
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This will effectively turn Vespers into living masks.
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The front and back of Vespers.
