Lucy McRae on Body Futurism, Swallowable Parfum, and a 2027 Fashion Launch in Los Angeles
In an interview with designboom, Lucy McRae, a British-born artist residing in Australia and head of the speculative lab Future Sensitive, elaborated on her body-focused artistic approach. McRae, an RMIT interior design graduate, previously operated a forward-thinking design research lab at Philips from 2006 to 2010. She views the body as a medium to investigate the impact of technology on human experiences. Her 2019 work, Compression Cradle, showcased at the Milan Triennale exhibition Broken Nature, influenced a visual element in Blade Runner 2099, where she designed replicant birth bags and a crèche. Additionally, her collaboration with synthetic biologist Sharef Mansy led to Swallowable Parfum, a conceptual beauty pill that piqued pharmaceutical interest. Set to debut in Los Angeles in 2027, her Future Sensitive collection, inspired by film and costume art, is currently being tested in public. McRae envisions creating an artwork in a swimming pool featuring wearable flotation devices and water rituals, potentially filmed for the fashion launch. This interview is part of designboom's SPECTATOR AND SPECTACLE chapter, in collaboration with SolidNature.
Key facts
- Lucy McRae leads Future Sensitive, an art-led speculative lab exploring body futurism and post-nature futures.
- She studied interior design at RMIT and led a far-future design research lab at Philips from 2006 to 2010.
- Her 2019 project Compression Cradle was presented at the Milan Triennale exhibition Broken Nature, curated by Paola Antonelli.
- Compression Cradle later inspired a visual reference in Blade Runner 2099, for which McRae designed a crèche and birth bags for replicants.
- Swallowable Parfum, developed with synthetic biologist Sharef Mansy, is a cosmetic pill that makes the body produce its own fragrance.
- McRae has completed a collection for Future Sensitive, set to launch in Los Angeles in 2027.
- She describes worn objects as invisible architectures and fields of feeling or psyche.
- The interview is part of designboom's SPECTATOR AND SPECTACLE chapter, presented in partnership with SolidNature.
Entities
Artists
- Lucy McRae
- Paola Antonelli
- Sharef Mansy
Institutions
- Future Sensitive
- RMIT
- Philips
- Milan Triennale
- Broken Nature
- Blade Runner 2099
- designboom
- SolidNature
Locations
- Los Angeles
- United States
- Milan
- Italy