Co-investigator W Carter
Project Website http://matter.media.mit.edu/tools/details/gravida
From the Greek Aphrodite, Turkish Aka, Welsh Arianrhod, Egyptian Bast, Irish Brigit, Nordic Freya, Hawaiian Haumea, Russian Mastor-Ava, Aztec Tlalteutli, to Roman Venus, fertility goddesses represent one of the main aspects of the Mother Archetype. Archeological finds of the earliest Goddesses from around the world show her as The Great Mother Goddess and creator, depicted with a swollen Belly. Gravida is known as the state of being pregnant. This imaginary being is designed as a pregnancy corset, offering support for the female belly as it grows, expands, and stretches. The form follows the natural curves of the body, while incorporating a highly wrinkled stretchable pattern. The corset is composed of two surfaces: an external armor shell and an internal soft membrane. The relatively high ratio of surface area to volume ratio, also prominent in the design of biological skins, maximizes the retention of warmth in cold environments while providing for comfort, support and flexibility as the body shape transforms.