Milan - Designed by sci-fi artist and body architect, Lucy McRae, Compression Cradle is an experimental machine that affectionately compresses the body.
Exhibited at Triennale Milano, the installation sees air blown through membranes into a latex-like fabric. This in turn inflates a blanket that covers the participant, instilling in them a profound feeling of relaxation. When the air is removed, it squeezes the body to create the sensation of being artificially hugged.
Through the installation, Lucy McRae explores our current touch-deficit, which could become more extreme in the future. ‘If we slowly de-evolve from physical touch wanting beings then potentially that could change species as we know it, which starts to tip into broken nature, extinction and how we are evolving and de-evolving,' the artist explains.
As people increasingly choose to live independently and technology vies for their affection, brands will need to consider how they can cater to society’s evolving physical and emotional needs.