BLADERUNNER 2049
the collaboration (outcome)
the making process
The live performance idea was a live sales pitch to the government in a futuristic auditorium, proposing this new nexus model, Nexus 6.5, which is an improvement of Nexus 6. The previous Nexus Model, Nexus 6, was used in the original Bladerunner film to go and work on off world colonies. Nexus 6.5 would be designed to stands out from society and can be used domestically.
Stage one of the Nexus 6.5 model encompasses the bioengineered human, a "grown human". It is not quite human, but simultaneously not robotic. It is imperfect because it is an experiment. It has mutations and excess skin in places whilst muscle is exposed on other parts of the body. It has malformed hands and scarring where incisions have been made by scientists to insert microchips and wiring to make it move like a human and to be able to track it's movements. It is in foetal position which is symbolic of new life; the birth of a new being. The large head provides a foetus-like feature, almost making you, as the viewer, feel empathy for it as it being treated as a slave in society which carries out domestic tasks. It sits in a futuristic style incubator which pumps oxygen in. The deep red / purple suggests a lack of oxygen as it is not functioning properly yet.
Stage Two of the process reveals that the excess skin has been removed and final patching up is being done.
Stage Three of the model demonstrates the finalised prototype having undergone plastic surgery to create the "perfect" human being which distinguishes them in case of any faults or disruption caused in society.
This was a collaborative project between the 3D Effects for Performance and Fashion course, the Costume for Performance course and the Hair, Makeup and Prosthetics for Performance course. There were five or six people per group.
The group's concept was to create a Nexus 6.5 prototype nanny which has domestic functions on earth. It can clean, cook and look after children. The project portrays the three stages of the process involved in making the new model: bioengineering a human; stripping it back and improving it - inserting a "brain" to make it function like a real human; and then conducting plastic surgery to create the "perfect" face. This aesthetic makes the replicants stand out, making it easier to track the replicants incase of any faults or disruption in society and therefore can be retired with ease.
the making process
The making process involved in making the mutated bioengineered replicant involved sculpting the figure out of clay and chavant for the finer details, casting it in fibreglass and then casting it out in silcione. This was then painted with oil paints and skin illustrater paint.
The incubator was made using three modern shelving units, plumbing pipes, a grill and a battery operated light..