MEUW's Amphibious Critters: Redefining Human-Animal Bonds at Milan Design Week
At Milan Design Week 2026, the artistic duo Jaemo Lee and Lisa Schober, through their project MEUW (Socius novus), introduced a captivating installation that redefines our understanding of companionship. Featured in HEAD-Genève's exhibition at the former Baggio Military Hospital in Milan, their work presented three soft, amphibian-like silicone creatures. These installations aimed to explore the essence of human-animal bonds and offered a new perspective on intimacy and co-existence without the traditional responsibilities associated with pet ownership. The interaction with these objects, which range in size and weight, provided a unique sensory experience, prompting contemplation on the nature of attachment and the potential for simulated companionship.
MEUW's Exhibition Challenges Perceptions of Pet Ownership
In the spring of 2026, within the historic confines of the abandoned Baggio Military Hospital in Milan, artists Jaemo Lee and Lisa Schober presented their innovative project, MEUW (Socius novus). This installation was a highlight of the HEAD-Genève’s Master in Interior Architecture (MAIA) group show, titled 'No One Sees Them Like We Do. Notes on Animal Interiors,' held during the celebrated Milan Design Week 2026. The exhibition featured three squishy, semi-translucent, amphibian-like figures, softly illuminated within a tile-lined room, evoking a sense of newfound discovery. These creations emerged from a course led by architect and professor Youri Kravtchenko, with assistance from David Valadomiu Ceballos and Marie Schild. The project was one of six that sought to generate diverse spatial narratives, using fables as a conceptual framework to reimagine the intricate relationships between humans, animals, and their environments. Lee and Schober's work specifically addressed the problematic aspects of the reptile pet industry, particularly the breeding and trading of leopard geckos, which often reduce living creatures to mere decorative or collectible items. Drawing inspiration from Carlo Mollino’s 1964 'Walking Dragon' and David Cronenberg’s film 'eXistenZ', MEUW's creators aimed to design companions that provide emotional connection without the complexities and ethical dilemmas of living animals. These objects, varying in size with the largest weighing nearly 12 kg, were crafted from colored silicone without any internal structure, allowing their texture, weight, and perceived cuteness to foster an immediate, haptic sense of intimacy. Visitors to the exhibition were encouraged to interact with these unique creatures, observing their movements and experiencing a profound sense of connection, thereby questioning whether intimacy can be simulated without dominance and exploring humanity's desire for connection amidst the challenges of coexisting with living beings. The manufacturing process involved designing various forms and sizes, utilizing sketching, 3D modeling, Grasshopper, and AI, followed by the creation of custom 3D-printed molds. Transparent silicone mixed with pigments was hand-cast into these molds within a tight 10-minute window before hardening. Extensive experimentation with hardness, textures, and colors ensured that the final products resonated deeply with visitors, inviting them to touch, hold, and care for these innovative pet surrogates.
The MEUW project by Jaemo Lee and Lisa Schober offers a compelling commentary on modern human desires for companionship, prompting us to critically evaluate our relationships with living creatures. By creating tactile, non-living companions, the artists encourage a dialogue about ethical pet ownership, the potential for simulated intimacy, and the profound longing for connection that drives human interaction with the natural world. This exhibition not only showcased innovative design but also served as a thought-provoking experiment on the boundaries of emotional attachment and the future of human-animal co-existence.