Are you intrigued by the future of fashion, bodies and technology and and how artists and designers will deal with the implied ethical issues and aesthetic possibilities? Then you should visit Hybrid Skins in TETEM art space, still open until 24th November. Read our interview with curator Melissa Coleman here. One of the works included in the exhibition is ‘Like Living Organisms’, made by Local Androids – who we interviewed as well. Read it after the break.

How did you meet and how did Local Androids start?

Monday 4 September 2006… The day we became classmates at the art academy and also the day we had to do an assignment together. We aligned in so many ways of thinking that the teachers didn’t want us to group up anymore, they couldn’t see what whose influence in the project was. It was already clear for us that right after graduation we would work together.

What was the inspiration for ‘Like Living Organisms’ and how does it work?

Inspiration is a mixture of: human skin, social behavior, animals, transhumanism. ‘Like Living Organisms’ is an interactive organic skin suit that embodies the emotions of meeting someone for the first time… It breathes, it’s alive… It becomes excited, anxious, stressed or perhaps it will fall in love with you when you approach it. Once you come into its personal space the heart rate (pulse in veins) of the suit will increase.

Approach the suit the right way and it will relax.

How did you find Lara Aimee, who modeled ‘Like Living Organisms’ during the opening night of ‘Hybrid Skins’?

We met her at V2, institute for unstable media, where she modeled for Anouk Wipprecht (also an artist that is part of the ‘Hybrid Skins’ exhibition).

What materials and procedures do you use?

Anything that suits the concept, we’re not material bound. We create an concept and research until we find the fitting material. In this case we used dragon skin silicon. It’s a silicon that’s also for making body parts/props in the film industry. It has the quality that it’s stretchable, has this skin transparent feeling and feels like skin.

Actually we never use the same procedure. We enjoy challenges and always aim for something impossible, which usually results in a lot of trial and error ;)

How do you feel about being in the exhibition ‘Hybrid Skins’?

I’m honoured to stand between these great artists I was looking up to a few years ago when I still was in school.

How did you get involved with fashion/body technology?

Out of the blue Anouk Wipprecht, who we had met at V2, asked us to join an Artist in Residence in Vienna and participate in a fashiontech exhibition she was curating at that time.

We said immediately YES!!!!! (and afterwards started worrying how … story of our life).

What will the future of fashion/body technology be like, according to you?

I’m not sure, it can go in any direction. I think right now it stagnates because of moral reasons. There are already so many incredible possibilities. Yet I keep seeing a lot of spectacle and little practical or contemporary use.

What are you working on right now?

Deep sea creatures.

More information on Hybrid Skins here.