This Artist Designs and 3D Prints Cityscape Shells For Hermit Crabs

Hermit crabs are little tiny creatures that we all know and love to have. Their natural habitats are found all over the world, from the Indo-Pacific seas, to the Western Atlantic Ocean, to the shores of the Caribbean. While they are mostly known for being pets, in Japanese Artist Aki Inomata’s latest project, they are her unlikely partners.

Her newest project involves Hermit crabs moving from cities all over the world, from Tokyo to New York City, and Greece in the matter of a few minutes. How? By 3D printing shells resembling these cities, of course!

[vimeo 71005763 w=640 h=360]

Source: Vimeo, Aki Inomata

The project began back in 2009, titled “Why Not Hand Over a ‘Shelter’ to Hermit Crabs?” She first started this project by printing clear plastic shells which feature miniature scale Tokyo and Paris styled houses. She did this by replicating the natural shape of a hermit crab shell by CT scanning it, and then designing the buildings or structures she wants to replicate on top of it. She then uses 3D printing technology to bring her pieces to life. The final step is to then put the shells in a tank and wait for a hermit crab to move into its new home.

Source: Youtube, Aki Inomata

She continued this project for a few years, creating shells resembling iconic cities throughout the world, such as New York City, Tokyo, Thailand’s Wat Band Phra temple, and many more, between the years 2010 and 2013. Her newest creation is a replica of a wedding chapel in Japan.

The project means so much more than a piece of art though. As Inomata explains, hermit crabs are called “yadokari” in Japanese, which roughly translates to “someone living in a temporary dwelling”. This, in a sense, makes them somewhat similar to humans.

“The hermit crabs in my piece, who exchange shelters representing cities of the world, seem to be crossing over national borders,” she explains. “It also brings to mind migrants and refugees changing their nationalities and the places where they live.”

Here are pictures of some of her creations:

New York City