Spiritual re-wilding

2023-yuxi-sun-shoes
technical description

Bird claws inspired shoe, seamlessly integrating with the body to create a symbiotic functional experience. Vegetable-tanned leather, CNC milled beech wood, 3D-printed stainless steel, materials joined through cold bonding technique.

concept

Humanity's shift towards capitalism, science, and technology has resulted in the decline and extinction of many cultures closely connected to nature. This detachment has led to a social construct that ignores the laws of nature, causing us to lose touch with our innate animal instincts. In 2018, designer Yuxi Sun took part in an outdoor fitness class in China, imitating various animal postures under the direction of an instructor. Not only was her body stretched during this process: her body and mind were released as if she had touched her instincts as a primate. This process became the inspiration for her footwear project,focused on the concept of biomimicry. By wearing her shoes, people are led to imitate several typical animal movements and postures in nature, achieving a primitive, emotional instinctive state (re-wilding), thus breaking away from the confines of industrial society.

tags
Animals, Biomimicry, Capitalism, Fitness, Nature, Nature vs Technology, Primitivism, Psycology
year
2024
category
Accessories
object type
Shoes
historical summary

ITS Contest Application year: 2023
Application area: Accessories
Collection shortlisted as a Finalist
Winner of ITS Footwear Award powered by Fondazione Ferragamo Award

colors
Light Brown
materials
Stainless Steel, Vegetable-Tanned Leather, Wood
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