Nature—Cooper Hewitt Design Triennial | Exhibitions | Collection of Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum

This exhibition was on display from May 10, 2019 to January 20, 2020.

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Designers are collaborating with nature, forging meaningful connections between humanity and the Earth. Their work is inspired by and intertwined with nature like never before, reflective of our transforming relationship to the natural world. Compelled by a sense of urgency, designers look to nature as a guide and partner.
With projects ranging from experimental prototypes to consumer products, immersive installations, and architectural constructions, Nature-Cooper Hewitt Design Triennial, co-organized with Cube design museum, presents the work of sixty-two international design teams. Collaborations involve scientists, engineers, advocates for social and environmental justice, artists, and philosophers. They are engaging with nature in innovative and ground-breaking ways, driven by a profound awareness of climate change and ecological crises as much as advances in science and technology.
The exhibition themes explore seven strategies that designers are using to collaborate with nature - to understand, remediate, simulate, salvage, nurture, augment, and facilitate. The outcomes are speculative or practical and reveal new material, creative methods, and inventive technologies. These provocations and solutions put forth by today's extraordinary design teams serve as encouragement for an enduring and more respectful partnership with nature.

Vessel, Algae Vessel
3d-printed biomaterial (microalgae, sugar-based biopolymer).
Gift of Atelier Luma / Luma Arles.
s-a-272

This object was made by Atelier Luma and Studio Klarenbeek & Dros.
There are 3 images of this object.

Vessel, Algae Vessel
3d-printed biomaterial (microalgae, sugar-based biopolymer).
Gift of Atelier Luma / Luma Arles.
s-a-273

This object was made by Atelier Luma and Studio Klarenbeek & Dros.

Vessel, Algae Vessel
3d-printed biomaterial (microalgae, sugar-based biopolymer).
Gift of Atelier Luma / Luma Arles.
s-a-274

This object was made by Atelier Luma and Studio Klarenbeek & Dros.

Vessel, Algae Vessel
3d-printed biomaterial (microalgae, sugar-based biopolymer).
Gift of Atelier Luma / Luma Arles.
s-a-275

This object was made by Atelier Luma and Studio Klarenbeek & Dros.

Vessel, Algae Vessel
3d-printed biomaterial (microalgae, sugar-based biopolymer).
Gift of Atelier Luma / Luma Arles.
s-a-276

This object was made by Atelier Luma and Studio Klarenbeek & Dros.

Cup, Algae Vessel
3d-printed biomaterial (microalgae, sugar-based biopolymer).
Gift of Atelier Luma / Luma Arles.
s-a-277

This object was made by Atelier Luma and Studio Klarenbeek & Dros.

Cup, Algae Vessel
3d-printed biomaterial (microalgae, sugar-based biopolymer).
Gift of Atelier Luma / Luma Arles.
s-a-278

This object was made by Atelier Luma and Studio Klarenbeek & Dros.

Bowl, Algae Vessel
3d-printed biomaterial (microalgae, sugar-based biopolymer).
Gift of Atelier Luma / Luma Arles.
s-a-279

This object was made by Atelier Luma and Studio Klarenbeek & Dros.

Bowl, Algae Vessel
3d-printed biomaterial (microalgae, sugar-based biopolymer).
Gift of Atelier Luma / Luma Arles.
s-a-280

This object was made by Atelier Luma and Studio Klarenbeek & Dros.

Close-up photograph of transparent bulb-shaped glass globes each containing an insect replica. Two bulbs are in focus in the foreground, set against a background with a large number of similarly sized glass bulbs hanging next to each other at different heights. The glass bulbs are suspended individually on a metal wire and are each illuminated by a cold light. The photograph highlights the many light reflections on the bulbs. In the two bulbs in the foreground, on the right we see a replica of a blue-bodied, large-eyed, black-winged damselfly or dragonfly. In the bulb on the left, the insect replica has amber-orange wings and a body shape that reminds of a moth. In a third, out-of-focus bulb, we recognize a butterfly replica.

Curiosity Cloud, 2015–2019
installation, specimen display, book.
Courtesy of mischer'traxler Studio.
NATURE.001

Image of the simulated three-dimensional molecular structure of a complex biomolecule. On a black background, the molecule is represented by a large cluster of thousands of colorful spheres. Each sphere may represent an atom, or small group of atoms. Near the edges of the cluster, single spheres may represent other substances that may interact with the biomolecule, such as ions or substrate molecules. In the lower portion of the cluster, the shape is cylindrical, with a nearly-chevron arrangement of colors. The top portion is conical, subdivided in roughly oval-shaped areas of similarly-colored spheres arranged next to each other vertically within the cone. The cone and cylinder are connected by a central, intermediate, smaller cylinder with a helically twisted pattern of differently colored spheres. Also, on the right side of the cluster we see a less clearly defined lateral structure that connects the cylinder and the cone, similar to a handle.

Choreography of Life, 2019
video.
Courtesy of Charles Reilly.
NATURE.002

Photograph of the outer surface of a coral skeleton, showing at very high magnification its complex three-dimensional microscopical structure. The image offers great detail and depth. We see many, evenly distributed small pores and apertures along the entire surface. Scattered on the surface are larger, depressed clusters of pores arranged like 12-armed stars. By looking in detail, we can see further, smaller porous structures inside these depressions. In the foreground, the surface forms six berry-shaped porous buds. There are no living polyps in the image, but only the outer skeleton structure. The surface has a stony appearance. The image is colorful, with gradations from teal, purple, pink, orange to yellow. Different hues are arranged like shadows, so that parts of the image that appear closer to the viewer have cooler colors, and warmer colors in parts of the image that are further away from the viewer. A predominance of yellow in the upper right suggests a source of light from that direction. In close-up this arrangement of colors appears also within individual pores. In this detailed and consistent manner across different scales, color strongly enhances the impression of three-dimensionality of the image.

Electron Micrographs, 2019
images on monitors.
Courtesy of James C. Weaver.
NATURE.003

Project, Anthropocene Museum
model, concept plan, video.
Courtesy of Cave.
NATURE.004

A musical score and data manifested in a sketch with mostly pink and white petals on tiny stems branching out onto larger stems in an all-over composition on grey paper. Data collected on a disease is then written in swirls in a white material close to the petals in the negative spaces with red dots in various tiny sizes that are evident near each blossom.

Bruises—The Data We Don’t See, 2018
data visualization with original score, still, prepatory sketch.
Courtesy of Giorgia Lupi and Kaki King.
NATURE.005

A site-specific garden installation constructed in three parts. The bridge-like center form is long and narrow and rests north/south on a northern circular, shallow, well-shaped form that tips toward it to accept its weight. The southern hill-shaped form is the anchor that enables the center piece to be balanced.

Petrified River, 2018-2019
outdoor garden installation, photograph, model.
Courtesy of Ensamble Studio.
NATURE.006

A game in the form of a book opened to a two-page map of Walden Pond. Standard cartographic symbolism in a dedicated key sit on the upper right of the right page and a compass rose sits on the same page on the bottom right. Railway tracks and steps to an image of a house in Concord and Emerson's house are displayed on the left page. Muted tints of beige are used.

Walden, A Game, 2017
trailer.
Courtesy of Tracy Fullerton.
NATURE.007

Three monochromatic textiles hanging from separate wooden poles displaying similar cohesive designs all reminiscent of microbes and blood cells when seen under a microscope. The designs are, in fact, caused by rain drops on an ultramarine blue ground in various tints and shades in an organic composition.

Made by Rain, 2012-ongoing
textiles (2).
Courtesy of Aliki van der Kruijs.
NATURE.008

A person covered in an exoskeleton (external supporting mechanism) that enables the wearer to become a quadruped; as in a goat. The person wears a helmet that is aerodynamically-shapen.

GoatMan, 2014-2016
back leg protheses, photograph, book, video.
Courtesy of Thomas Thwaites.
NATURE.009

Digital image of a matrix of blue, red, yellow, green, orange and black dots arranged in an irregular plaid pattern, with mostly blue and green dots on either side of the matrix and mostly red, orange and red in its middle. A few points seem trickling away at the bottom of the matrix. There is no explanation of the significance of the different dot colors. There are more columns than rows, so the matrix appears as a wide rectangle. A legend on the left (title: Taxonomic depth) indicates that each row in the matrix represents a different type of bacteria. The legend consists of several bars next to each other (in a gradation of colors from light yellow to magenta) that show the classification of bacteria in its hierarchical subdividision. A bar next to most rows reads “Bacteria” (yellow); on its right, a light orange bar is split in “Proteobacteria”, “Actinobacteria” and others; Proteobacteria is further subdivided in the next bar (dark orange), in “Alphaproteobacteria” and “Betaproteobacteria”, and so forth. Thus the legend indicates that rows in the matrix are clustered according to the scientific classification of bacteria, so that rows next to each other represent bacteria that are more closely related on an evolutionary scale. A diagonally aligned text at the top of each column creates the illusion of depth and, although the font is very small and hardly readable, appears to indicate that each column represents a different gene product (a specific protein). Overall, the impression gained is that of a summary of genetic diversity within a sample of bacteria, organized both according to the type of bacteria (rows) and the diversity of specific metabolic functions (columns) identified within the sample. Above the matrix is a general title of the visualization: 'Thiocyanate bioreactor genome summary. High density genome summary matrix linked to a phylogenetic hierarchy'.

Metagenomic Data Visualization, 2016
videos (2), data visualization.
Courtesy Banfield Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley and Stamen....
NATURE.010

Black square image of space similar to a starry night sky. The black background is speckled with a huge number of small, luminous white dots. Most dots are linked with others by thin white lines to form a complex web. The white dots, representing galaxies, are spaced out at irregular positions and the links between them create the impression of denser clusters in particular in the middle of the image and along the diagonal of the upper left and lower left quadrants. Not all dots are linked; smaller dots seem to have fewer and shorter links to other dots. These links between dots remind of the visualization of network structures.

Visualizing the Cosmic Web, 2016
video.
Courtesy of Kim Albrecht.
NATURE.011

TetraPOT 2.0 – The Evolution of Greener Sea Defense, 2015-2018
scale prototypes, rendering.
Courtesy of Sheng-Hung Lee.
NATURE.012

Decorative wood pieces in uneven hexagonal (six-sided) shapes, arranged in a loosely repetitive floral pattern. The wood pieces range in shades of brown: off-white, yellow, orange-brown, redwood, walnut brown and darker ebony. The wall space divided by a thin brass-colored divider and from a distance, the shapes blend into an confetti of colors. A single, light wood folding chair is set diagonally in front of the wall. The chair has an off-white canvas back and seat and is on a hardwood floor of a warm medium-brown hardwood.

Totomoxtle, 2017-ongoing
patterned veneer.
Courtesy of Fernando Laposse.
NATURE.013

Against a background of green rocks and moss, an image of water in motion is divided horizontally by a red container with a large white label. Three red lines are attached to the container from the right and appear to be holding it in place. Two white tubes extend from inside the container and flow with the water; the tubes appear similar in style and shape to stockings. Water seems to be flowing inside the white shapes, and the bottom tube appears to be filled at its end.

BabyLegs, 2017-2019
babylegs trawl, petri dishes with microplastic samples gathered from the....
Courtesy of Max Liboiron.
NATURE.014

A single, long black glove with ribbed fingers and raised exoskeleton, appearing to be a left arm, appears left side. A large, square white label is visible on top of the wrist. The gloved hand is closed in a loose fist with a wide opening creating a circular opening between the thumb and index finger. Above each finger is a cord, reinforced at the knuckles, which originate from underneath the fabric below the label. Wires are visible behind a mesh fabric above the forearm.

Soft Robotic Grip Glove, 2015-ongoing
interactive demonstration, touch sample, video.
Courtesy of Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard....
NATURE.015

Mourn
urn for over-fertilized soil, urn for rich soil, urn for poor soil,....
Courtesy of the Energy and Raw Materials Factory initiated by the Dutch Water....
NATURE.016

Infinity Burial Suit
burial suit, illustration.
Courtesy of Jae Rhim Lee, Coeio, Inc..
NATURE.017

A transparent, yellow-hued short raincoat has five dark buttons, with only the two center ones snapped shut. The bottom of the raincoat appears without a hem as if it were cut with scissors, and rests on an armless and headless white mannequin with a silver collar. The raincoat's hood, loosely folded onto the mannequin's shoulder, falls to viewer's right side. The raincoat is lightly crinckled, and the material is folded into a cuff at each wrist. Two side pockets can be seen at each side.

After Ancient Sunlight, 2018
raincoat on mannequin, book, infographics (2).
Courtesy of Charlotte McCurdy.
NATURE.018

An yellowish-green glow illuminates from two herb-like round-leafed plants in a dark space with an opened book. The pages are barely visible, the headers 'Paradise Lost' and 'Book III' are legible at the tops of the left and right pages, respectively. The plants each illuminate one page but barely so, and appear to have been place in a bottle. A light reflection of the image can be seen in the background.

Triennial Project Record, Nanobionic Plant Project: Ambient Illumination,...
installation and images.
Courtesy of MIT Professor S. Kennedy and Professor M. Strano Research Groups....
NATURE.019

A white facade for a built structure manufactured into a thick lozenge-shaped grid and transparent negative space with glass for viewing a sanctuary for Monarch butterflies and a wall consisting of 3 dimensional printing of triangles within triangles, circles and other forms and flora.

Monarch Sanctuary
partial building façade model, diagram, video.
Courtesy of Terreform ONE.
NATURE.020

There are 2 images of this object.

A small green plant sprouts inside a flourescent blue square box with large, clear windows. The box appears assembled with interlocking plastic pieces. The plant appears to be lit from above, highlighting the blue-on-white squares from which it sprouts.

Personal Food Computer, 2018-ongoing
personal food computers v3.0 (pfc_edu) (2), graphic, empty growth chamber, video.
Courtesy of MIT Media Lab Open Agriculture Initiative.
NATURE.021

A magestic structure resembling a butterfly's wings in pattern and when semi-closed in a tall cylindrical form with rounded edges that meet in the center while the inner design is mostly exposed. The sections of colors are saturated and symmetrical on both sides of the armature. This piece is an essential reductive form of beauty embracing science.

Aguahoja II, 2017-2019
samples, structrure.
Courtesy of The Mediated Matter Group.
NATURE.022

This object was made by MIT Media Lab Mediated Matter Group.

The components of the dress are integrated into a single garment comprised of a bell-form skirt shared by multiple bodices with sleeves. Overall, the style of the garment is reminscent of a circa 1900's period dress. The garment is displayed suspended from above, filling it with airy volume and giving the impression of a multi-armed wearer or wearers. Two bodices are visible, each having two outstretched sleeves. They are presented as animated 'figures' reaching out with bent elbows. The two figures face in opposing directions. The sleeves have cuffs with two-button closures. Each bodice has a pointed collar and a vertical row of buttons extending from the collar to its waistband. Between/behind the left figure and the right figure the back of a third collar is visible, a hint of a third 'figure' facing away from the viewer. The long, gathered, skirt material is attached underneath a waistband. The soft folds in the skirt material give the illusion of volume. The installation is lit by a dramatic light source which makes it seem to glow imbuing it with an ethereal/ghostly quality (as suggested by the title of the work - “FANTASMA.”) The effect of the light produces a fluorescence giving the illusion of colors ranging from blue to aqua. The textile is unpatterned, appears crinkly and sheer, with visible seams and hem.

Fantasma, 2019
garment, silk worm cocoons and raw silk threads.
Courtesy of AnotherFarm.
NATURE.023

Coat, Cilllia
samples (5), touch samples (5), coat.
Courtesy of the Tangible Media Group.
NATURE.024

This object was made by Tangible Media Group.
There are 3 images of this object.

3D printed form of 5 vertebrae painted in white. Each surface of the material has a different pattern and negative space. The suspended horizontally placed form is illuminated and overlaps a stark black ground.

3D-Painted Hyperelastic Bone®, 2015-19
bone samples, countour meshes for reconstructive surgery, photograph.
Courtesy of Adam E. Jakus and Ramille N. Shaw, Dimension Inx LLC.
NATURE.025

A photograph of black captured carbon material in pens, markers and a bottle with applicators of different widths is placed horizontally in an installation view with descriptions of the contents above each container to the right. The label contains a black block lettered font with a ground that is contrasted in white and the placement of the letters is consistently irregular on each receptacle.

Exhibition Installation, AIR-INK, 2013-ongoing
captured carbon, selection of pens and markers, fabric sample, poster.
Courtesy of Graviky Labs.
NATURE.026