CARAPACE (THESIS PROPOSAL)

The origin of this thesis proposal is the death mask. Following death, death masks are often made by cast or impression the deceased’s face as a memento of their life. Furthermore, the current rise of digital technologies alludes to the end of the Albertian means of identical design; all that is digital is variable. This thesis proposal proposes that MRIs can be used as a new means of casting the human face and head through the action of serial section. Typical architectural section shows only geometry; MRI shows material and volume from which geometry, and therefore form, can be derived. Such allows for the dissolution of anatomical boundaries for reconsideration of the form and production of the typology of death mask.

Historical and Contextual Traces (Bricolage)

Totemic Operator

The totemic operator acts as a sign that can be apprehended at a glance. It is independent in the sense that it does not represent a concept or idea; its relationship to the ground is taken for what it is and nothing more. Therefore, the totemic operator functions as a technology in standing reserve standing for what the possible intended object of design could be. In this case, the totemic operator “masks” the ground, implying that it is a mask of some sort. As it is situated between a model reconstructed from MRI scans of a rhino beetle and a death mask, the implication is that the intended object that the thesis proposes is a death mask informed by rhino beetle MRI scans.

Manipulated MRI Scans of the Human Head

MRI Scans Reconstructed at various resolutions and thresholds

Reconstructed Render

Contour Model Of Reconstruction

3D Printed Prototype of Part of Mask

At this point in the project, I understood that the rhino beetle was limiting the project. There is inherent symbolism in the rhino beetle for the concept of rebirth, but the rhino beetle made the proposal convoluted. From here on, I argue that MRI is a new possible means of casting the human face and head. Therefore, the mask does not need to sit on the face, but can rather be an object that stands on the ground alone. This is because the cast is not of the surface of the face, but rather the interior of the face and head.