

PSX consultancy designs sex toys for plants at BIO 50

photo © ana kovac/MAO

established under the moniker ‘PSX consultancy‘, a team of designers and scientists have conceived augmentation devices for use by vegetal species for purposes of enhancing the given client’s natural reproductive processes. in other words, they designed and produced sex toys for plants.

the project was developed under the theme of ‘designing life’ at ljubljana’s current biennale, BIO 50, with a central intention of engaging areas of science with current discussions on the design of everyday life. the group’s efforts represent a subversion of anthropocentric thinking, to one which sees plants as an equal constituent with similar needs to our own.

designed for the sarracenia plant, two objects work together to increase food intake and enhance growth

photo © pei-ying lin

an example of the team’s outcomes are two objects designed specifically for the pitcher plant (sarracenia purpurea). the first of the pair sits in the plants leaves (pitchers) and provides ‘an alternative food source generated by algae through photosynthesis. the structure containing algae directly blocks the sarracenia’s mouth, to avoid it from eating pollinators.’

the augmentation device is complemented by ring containing blood-filled sacs which attaches to the plant’s flower. this object attracts mosquitoes and nectar, which in turn attracts bees to keep them away from the pitchers below.

pitcher plant (sarracenia purpurea) reproduction enhancing objects

images © PSX consultancy

armatures vibrate the cyclamen plant to release its pollen to allow for its reproduction

image © designboom

the cyclamen depends on a specific species of bee for its reproduction, due to the insect’s ability to shake the plant to release its pollen. a device has been design which vibrates in a way that replicates the extinct bees ability.

images © PSX consultancy

‘vanity lace’ objects mask the carnation’s flowers to inhibit the contraction of insect-borne diseases

photo © pei-ying lin

designed to inhibit the spread of insect-borne diseases, a device has been designed to mask the flowers of the carnation (dianthus caryphyllus) plant. ‘the best way to prevent the spread of an STD is abstinence, but with such attractive petals, which bug could resist the temptation? the vanity lace masks protect a selection of flowers on a single plant, blocking contact with the pollinators and statistically reducing the incidence of STDs, while keeping the visual seductiveness in the form of a lace’

images © PSX consultancy

a ‘flower plug’ augments the shape of the canna indica‘s flowers allow for improved pollination from bees

(left) photo © pei-ying lin

(right) image © designboom

images © PSX consultancy

the ‘plant sex consultancy’ responds to the ‘designing life’ theme at BIO 50, with a team led by mentors jurij krpan and william myers, and comprised of špela petrič, pei-ying lin, dimitrios stamatis, david benque, jasmina weiss.

the vegetal sex objects are on display at BIO 50

image © designboom

an inoculation cup regulates the spread of whiteflies for the abutilon pictum plant

photo © pei-ying lin

images © PSX consultancy