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Lexus Launches Liminal Cycles Installation Showcasing Material Innovation And Technology
Lexus has introduced "Liminal Cycles," a multisensory installation in collaboration with Crafting Plastics, a design studio from Bratislava. This installation, showcased at the Institute of Contemporary Art, Miami (ICA Miami), explores material innovation and responsive technology. It draws inspiration from the Lexus LF-ZC Battery Electric Vehicle concept car. Alongside this, Lexus has launched a limited-edition capsule collection featuring 26 design objects by renowned designers.
The installation is located in the ICA Miami sculpture garden and highlights the adaptability and responsive technology central to Software Defined Vehicles (SDVs). These vehicles focus on software-enabled customization as a key aspect of personalized luxury design. By engaging with a global art and design audience, Lexus aims to promote bold luxury experiences for future generations.
Crafting Plastics, led by co-founders Vlasta Kubušová and Miroslav Král, created a dynamic sculpture referencing the Lexus LF-ZC. The sculpture is made from 3D-printed bioplastic Nuatan®, which is biodegradable and based on renewable resources. It features a UV-responsive material skin that reacts to environmental stimuli by changing color and mimicking natural movements.
The Liminal Cycles installation also includes three satellite installations complementing the central sculpture. These installations incorporate elements of the LF-ZC to showcase sensory reactions ranging from audio and visual to olfactory. Each piece invites interaction, responding to touch or environmental changes with unique sensory outputs.
Lexus' capsule collection expands on themes explored in Liminal Cycles. It includes objects designed by Crafting Plastics, Germane Barnes, Michael Bennett (Studio Kër), Suchi Reddy, and Tara Sakhi (T SAKHI). These objects reflect Lexus' ethos of personalization, sustainability, materiality, technology, and performance. Materials used range from amber glass to recycled aluminum from a Lexus hood.
Each designer's work aligns with Lexus' design principles while showcasing their unique practices. For instance, Crafting Plastics' Ephemerables series uses bioplastics in customizable forms. Germane Barnes' ceramic vessels highlight high-quality performance in design. Tara Sakhi's Memory series focuses on sustainability through recyclable materials.
Sensory Experience
A custom scent developed with fragrance brand dilo accompanies the capsule collection and installation. This scent features notes of blood orange and bergamot with hints of cedar and moss. Available as a limited-edition candle, it embodies progress and renewal while aligning with nature.
"We are honored to collaborate with some of the world’s leading designers," says Heather Updegraff of Lexus International Strategic Communications. "These works embody responsive technology, sustainable materials, and sensory-driven design." The capsule collection will be displayed at ICA Miami during Miami Art & Design Week 2024.
Commitment to Sustainability
Crafting Plastics is known for advocating biobased materials in creative industries like fashion and product design. Their Nuatan® material series challenges traditional design norms by offering ecological alternatives to fossil-fuel-based plastics. The studio's work emphasizes reuse and reintegration within responsible design practices.
"This installation presents a rare opportunity," says Vlasta Kubušová of Crafting Plastics. "We hope visitors will be inspired by bio-based materials." The collaboration between Lexus and Crafting Plastics showcases an elevated approach to sustainable design that combines beauty with utility.
Engaging Discussions
Lexus will host Art Series: Art and Innovation Talks alongside Liminal Cycles at ICA Miami's sculpture garden. On December 4th, panels will discuss materiality and sustainability in luxury automotive design. Moderators include Katy Donoghue from Whitewall magazine and Tamara Warren from LE CAR.
Lexus continues its commitment to bold design since its launch in 1989 with a flagship sedan defining premium automotive standards. As a leader in luxury hybrid sales, Lexus has sold over 2.33 million electrified vehicles globally while maintaining exceptional craftsmanship across its lineup available in over 90 countries worldwide.
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