‘Alternative Limb Project’ Showcases the Creative Possibilities of Prosthetics

 

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As the founder of The Alternative Limb Project, designer Sophie de Oliveira Barata uses her special effects expertise to create state-of-the-art prosthetics. Blending form with function and blurring the line between art and technology, this ambitious endeavor aims to creatively improve the lives of those in need of limb replacement.

To create these alternative limbs, de Oliveira Barata works closely with each client in order to get a sense of his or her style. Once she has an aesthetic in mind, she begins designing the limb, employing the help of 3D modeling specialists, electronics experts, and, sometimes, the client's prosthetist. The result? “Imaginative limb covers that delight the eye, empower the wearer, and inspire a positive dialogue about the human body and difference.”

In addition to these highly stylized and avant-garde artificial limbs, de Oliveira Barata also designs and creates realistic prosthetics. Unlike the alternative pieces, these hand-sculpted models are intended to meticulously match the wearer's other body parts. In either case, though, de Oliveira Barata views each artificial limb as a means of self-expression and, ultimately, as a physical “extension of the wearer’s personality.”

If you're interested in commissioning an alternative or realistic limb, you can contact de Oliveira Barata through The Alternative Limb Project‘s website.

The Alternative Limb Project creates stylized, cool prosthetics known as “alternative limbs.”

 

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Some of them imaginatively incorporate animatronics.

 

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And others even have interchangeable pieces!

 

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See some other examples of this approach to prosthetic design below!

 

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The Alternative Limb Project: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

Related Articles:

Inspiring Teen Continues to Pursue Her Love of Dance After Leg Amputation

“Superhero Cyborgs” Workshops Let Kids Design Their Own Prosthetics

Woman Turns Prosthetic Leg Into Chalkboard to Creatively Caption Her Travel Photos

Kelly Richman-Abdou

Kelly Richman-Abdou is a Contributing Writer at My Modern Met. An art historian living in Paris, Kelly was born and raised in San Francisco and holds a BA in Art History from the University of San Francisco and an MA in Art and Museum Studies from Georgetown University. When she’s not writing, you can find Kelly wandering around Paris, whether she’s leading a tour (as a guide, she has been interviewed by BBC World News America and France 24) or simply taking a stroll with her husband and two tiny daughters.
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