This project examines what happens when the promise of technology clashes with the constraints of reality. Inspired by Southern Gothic aesthetics, this project merges traditional craft with augmented reality, simulating an urban environment dependent on self-repairing 4D-printed infrastructure. When this technology falters due to material shortages, deep-seated social and physical fractures emerge. Witness a hypothetical rural community in Georgia grappling with the dual specters of technological dependency when it fails, showcasing the profound fragility embedded within our meticulously designed futuristic visions.
In this imagined world, rural Georgia communities have embraced 4D-printed infrastructure for its promise of seamless self-repair. A reliance on a single material, however, transforms quaint, historic towns into fragile landscapes. A history built on self-reliance, now clashes with the new. Close-knit communities, accustomed to mutual support, find themselves fractured along lines of access and privilege as the once-utopian infrastructure begins to fail. The spirit of resilience remains, a cultural legacy of self-sufficiency becomes central, as residents navigate the delicate balance between technological advancements and resource limitations.
This project challenges our faith in technological solutions. As we increasingly rely on complex systems, 'Fractured Foundations' urges reflection on potential vulnerabilities in the face of an unfutre that includes collapse. Consider: what back up plans are there, when essential technologies become unsustainable? What is true resilience?
Drawing inspiration from historical artifacts and traditional craftsmanship, Crossway's work is deeply influenced by Southern Gothic aesthetics, blending beauty with decay. For this project, Crossway used augmented reality to create simulations that layered various collapse scenarios for self-repairing infrastructure, similar to building blocks being added and removed. Inspired by traditional quilt-making's symbolic storytelling, these simulations intersected historical conflict analysis with futuristic projections. Insights from this blend of digital modeling informed an understanding of urban instability, creating a speculation that intricately explores the consequences of technological over-reliance in rural societal frameworks.
More about Crossway_6134
2024: Global supply chain issues impact the availability of specialized polymers.
2025: Rural Georgia adopts 4D-printed infrastructure to reduce maintenance costs.
2026: First-generation 4D-printed infrastructure begins to show signs of material fatigue.
2027: Local communities develop patch-and-repair techniques using salvaged materials.
2028: Shortages of original 4D print material becomes more acute, repairs become increasingly challenging.
Crossway_6134 considered the following imagined future scenarios while working on this project
Crossway_6134 considered the following hypothetical product ideas while working on this project