The Alternative Limb Project

Sophie de Oliveira Barata

The Alternative Limb project created by Sophie de Oliveira Barat provides realistic prosthetic limbs that blend with the body. They also do alternative-style limbs and take a lot of client’s ideas in consideration.

Sophie has a first class honours degree from the University of Arts London. She studied special effects prosthetic for film and TV. The kind of skills needed to do this work is: sculpting, graphics, paint and technology. The materials used for the various limbs are metal, silicone, colours, lights, lasers, mirrors, wood, jewels, bionic components, plastic painting.

Sophie also collaborates with other artists and technical people to produce the limbs for example IT experts, metalwork and woodwork, for example the alternative limb wooden arm. Sophie begins to make the prosthesis by taking colour readings and photographs. If the prosthesis is in direct contact with the skin, (e.g. finger, toe, partial foot or hand) a test piece will be made so that the prosthetist can check the fitting. If they are not happy with this, Sophie will make modifications and repeat the process. When everyone’s happy with the final piece the limb would be created.

I think the Limb Project is a great work of art. I think it’s extremely amazing how realistic they end up looking and how cool the alternative limbs turn out. I love the fact that they take the client’s design decisions in consideration and that they are really focused on the clients happiness. If I was to have a prosthesis made I would like an alternative limb like the stereo leg or the gadget arm because I think it looks really cool and could come in handy.

Reference: visited on 23/11/2014.

http://www.thealternativelimbproject.com/#