Neri Oxman
Neri Oxman is an architect and designer who focuses on material ecology. What this means is she and her Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) team use nature-inspired and informed processes when building and designing.
One of the projects she has created is called the silkworm pavilion. This project entailed studying and collecting data on how silkworms move while creating their cocoon. Then that data was used to create structures for the silkworms to build their silk on while robotics was utilized to move the structure in a way that guided the silkworms to create the desired shape. This piece of biological artwork is on display at the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA). Neri mentions that when collecting silk the traditional way the worm is killed in the process when the cocoon is boiled. In Neri's process, the worms are allowed to metamorphize and complete their lifecycle. This project focuses on the harmony of another living thing working with humans to create a material in a way that is more eco-friendly.
Neri has many other exhibitions in museums and is the recipient of a multitude of awards. She has explored 3d printing glass and bio packaging made from chitin, the material that crab shells are made of, alongside her team. With her amazing work and accomplishments, Neri is a maker sure to change the world.
