3D Printed Hermit Crab Shell Sculptures

Japanese artist Aki Inomata created a variety of architectural shells for hermit crabs for her 2009-2016 sculpture series “Why Not Hand Over a ‘Shelter’ to Hermit Crabs?”, which she 3D printed out of translucent plastic. Some shells have houses sprouting out of them, others feature entire cityscapes. Hermit crabs have willingly inhabited the shells, in some cases choosing them over natural shells.