Neri Oxman and her Mediated Matter Group at MIT have expanded their collection of 3D-printed death masks with designs that cultivate new life after death.

The third and final collection in the Vespers series of death masks sees the Mediated Matter Group explore the concept of rebirth, with a collection of five, almost colourless 3D-printed masks that function as "biological urns".

The urns are inhabited by living microorganisms that have been synthetically engineered by Oxman's team to produce pigments and/or useful chemical substances for human augmentation, such as vitamins, antibodies or antimicrobial drugs.

The team said that the research is leading toward a future where wearable interfaces and building skins are customised not only to fit a particular shape, but also a specific material, chemical and even genetic make-up.
Read more on Dezeen: http://www.dezeen.com/"p=1209425

WATCH NEXT: Neri Oxman designs synthetic apiary - https://youtu.be/n4dRPsbwhlQ

Subscribe to our YouTube channel for the latest architecture and design movies: http://bit.ly/1tcULvh

Like Dezeen on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dezeen/
Follow Dezeen on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Dezeen/
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dezeen/
Check out our Pinterest: https://uk.pinterest.com/dezeen/

...