Neri Oxman's "Vespers (Death Masks)" argues that the design and materiality of funerary objects, specifically death masks, reflect and shape societal attitudes towards mortality, memory, and the human form across different cultures and eras. The book analyzes historical and contemporary examples to demonstrate how these artifacts transition from tools of commemoration and preservation to objects imbued with artistic and technological meaning. Readers gain an understanding of how the materials, fabrication techniques, and conceptual frameworks employed in creating death masks offer insights into evolving human relationships with death and the digital age.
The work highlights the intersection of art, science, and technology in the context of funerary practices. It traces the lineage of death masks from plaster casts to 3D-printed recreations, illustrating how new technologies can re-contextualize ancient rituals. The book emphasizes that these objects are not merely likenesses but are charged with cultural and personal narratives, prompting a contemplation of what it means to preserve identity and experience loss in an increasingly digitized world.
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Key concepts
- Death Masks — Physical or digital representations of a deceased person's face, used for remembrance, identity preservation, or artistic expression.
- Materiality in Design — The study of how the physical properties and choice of materials influence the meaning and function of an object.
- Bio-Digital Fabrication — The use of digital technologies, such as 3D printing and bio-materials, to create objects with biological components or inspired by biological processes.
- Material Intelligence — The concept of materials possessing inherent properties that can be designed and exploited to achieve specific functional or aesthetic outcomes.
- Algorithmic Design — The use of computational algorithms to generate and refine design solutions, often applied to complex forms or data-driven creations.