Lexus’ core elements of inventive materiality, performance, personalization, sustainability and advanced technology have bolstered the premium automotive brands’ imaginative launches since 1989. Less than a decade later, the company ventured into the hybrid vehicle lane and became a pioneer in future-thinking automotive design.
Now, Lexus continues to trailblaze that path with the introduction of the Lexus LF-ZC (Lexus Future Zero Catalyst) Battery Electric Vehicle concept car, spurring a new era of innovation for the brand and emphasizing the importance of sustainability. Coinciding with Miami Art & Design Week, the car company unveiled Liminal Cycles, a multisensory, immersive installation, and the Lexus in Design Capsule Collection, which both brought a fresh creative perspective to the Lexus ethos.
Liminal Cycles took visitors through an interactive journey, inviting them into the creative world of Lexus where natural materials are the new frontier and personalized luxury design takes front and center. The installation, housed in Miami’s ICA Sculpture Garden, gave new life to the concepts of adaptability and responsive technology, which are integral to Software Defined Vehicles. Going beyond what’s expected, Lexus created an inviting landscape in which the elements of the LF-ZC could be perceived in a novel way — in a way that bridged the gap between the automotive and the artistic realms.
Brought to life in collaboration with Bratislava-based research and design studio Crafting Plastics, the installation featured a central “car” sculpture referencing the LF-ZC at scale. The sculpture’s foundation was crafted from 3D-printed, 100% biodegradable bioplastic Nuatan® and coated with a UV-responsive material skin.
The display also showed off three satellite installations that evoked sensory reactions from viewers. A floral-inspired sculpture referenced the form of the LF-ZC’s steering wheel while a large-scale sculpture stood in as a reinterpretation of the LF-ZC’s headrest. The sculpture blew up the headrest’s proportions and functioned as lounge seating. The last key element of the exhibition was a wind-activated, lattice sculpture that employed UV-reactive bioplastic material to detect shifts in UV radiation.
Alongside the four-part installation, Lexus introduced an exclusive capsule collection of 26 collectible design vessels crafted by a group of five groundbreaking artists. This capsule rounds out the brand’s commitment to sharing the future of sensorial design. The creatives included Crafting Plastics, Germane Barnes, Michael Bennett of Studio Kër, Suchi Reddy, and Tara Sakhi of T SAKHI, who all crafted their own bespoke objects to serve as sensory candle holders or fragrance diffusers. Each designer’s creations mirror their unique practices, implementing materials from amber glass to gold leaf to recycled aluminum from a Lexus hood.
Crafting Plastics’ Ephemerables range brings an essence of personalization to its signature use of biodegradable bioplastics. The brand is dedicated to transforming natural materials into functional objects, and this vessel highlights its sustainable dedication.
Germane Barnes works as an architect and designer who pays homage to the African diaspora, honoring classical African architecture through his gestural work. His series, The Beauty of Labor, showcases ceramic vessels made from 3D-printed clay that echo the silhouettes and forms he studies in his research.
Michael Bennett is a former NFL player and Super Bowl Champion who wears many hats. He is also inspired by African culture and it fuels the inspiration behind his creative studio, Studio Kër. Bennett’s object range, titled Synesthesia, is derived from amber glass and emphasizes materiality and master craftsmanship. The detailed nature of his creations reflects the attention to detail that Lexus embeds in its approach to materiality.
Founder of multidisciplinary architecture and design studio, T SAHKI, Tara Sakhi, grounds her practice in waste-conservation and recycling to create new textures, shapes and forms. Her collection, Memory, incorporates recycled materials in new ways, using Venetian Murano glass, gold leaves, and recycled aluminum from an actual Lexus hood to create five custom objects.
Lastly, Suchi Reddy, designer, architect and founder of Reddymade Studio, prioritized human engagement within her range. She often explores the convergence of neuroscience and the realm of art and used this project to continue that exploration. Her collection places a spotlight on technology through Bloom, a tabletop centerpiece display meant to hold both flowers and scents. Bloom is crafted from interlocking slit paper, created using precise cutting technology. She employed this material to create five vessels, modular design objects and scent diffusers.
To pair with each exclusive vessel, Lexus created a one-of-a-kind scent in collaboration with clean fragrance brand dilo. The refreshing scent features top notes of blood orange and bergamot, accented by natural hints of cedar, moss, amber and fir. dilo uses 100% US-grown soy wax and clean cotton burning wicks, echoing Lexus’ sustainable sentiments. The fragrance is available as a limited edition candle and launched alongside Liminal Cycles.
Kicking off the exhibition, Lexus presented Lexus Art Series: Art and Innovation Talks with Whitewall, which hosted two panels about materiality and integrating sustainability into the world of luxury design. Liminal Cycles will be on view at ICA Sculpture Garden through December 15. The candle and select vessels will also be available for purchase on HBX.com, with profits from all sales going towards ICA Miami’s sustainability initiatives.
ICA Sculpture Garden
Miami Design District
61 NE 41st St
Miami, FL 33137
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