PINK SHELL
PINK SHELL
2025
Charlotte, NC, USA
PINK SHELL was constructed for the SOVEREIGN: HONORING BODILY AUTONOMY exhibition at Charlotte, NC’s McColl Center in March 2025. The piece uses interactive elements and a twist on our signature design language to coalesce and manifest our feelings about identity expression and protection of bodily autonomy.
Taking a form reminiscent of a grenade, the exterior of PINK SHELL is a utilitarian casing 3D printed using matte black PLA filament on Bambu X1C printers. Custom mechanical and electrical hardware, featuring custom printed circuit boards to deliver power and data connections, is exposed evoking the memory of early bombs. These protrusions are suspended within the inverted fuchsia frame, printed using PLA in segments that are heat-welded together, sanded, and finished using automotive enamel paint.
The interior - accessible only by crossing the boundaries of the piece - features ten glowing buttons surrounding vibrant animated interior reflectors modeled, as with the other printed components, in Fusion 360 and finished with reflective spray chrome.
PINK SHELL was displayed in the entryway of the McColl Center, contrasting with the historic brick interior of the building.
Custom wiring and custom printed circuit boards were created using black cables and audio connectors, evoking the utilitarian exterior of early atomic bombs.
Textured interior cells refract the cast light in mesmerizing patterns.
The inverted shape asks viewers to observe from multiple angles to see the full interior.
Segments printed with PLA filament were heat welded together, and interior surfaces were sanded to a glossy, smooth finish. Exterior surfaces were left raw prior to painting.
The chrome-effect interior cells were painted then fitted with a rim of RGB LEDs.
