is a suspended soft rubber sculpture by marlou breuls that balances tactility, humor, and eeriness. the sculpture evokes associations with preserved human skin: its soft texture invites touch, while the metallic blue-green sheen (reminiscent of insect wings) introduces a strong sense of estrangement. the pins suspending the piece recall taxidermy, creating tension between desire and distance. visitors are invited to approach the work from all sides, experiencing the intriguing discomfort between the wish to touch and the space the object seems to claim.

no hard peelings subtly questions the constructed nature of the female body: how we manipulate, preserve, or detach bodies from convention. humor and playfulness are embedded through color and form, offering a fresh perspective on the human figure and its mutable possibilities.

the sculpture is made in clay to refine its form, then reproduced in rubber and silicone through a combination of molding techniques, allowing for precise capture of texture and detail while preserving material flexibility. in collaboration with laboratorium at kask & conservatorium, the surface was treated with synthetic melanin, inspired by natural pigments in human and animal skin, hair, and insect wings. this gives the piece its metallic hue while connecting it to themes of identity, protection, and bodily presence, and reflects a sustainable, research-driven approach to pigment and color.

this sculpture was commissioned by z33, house for contemporary art, design & architecture for the exhibition ecology of colour. the work was created in collaboration with laboratorium, the art, design, and biotechnology biolab of kask & conservatorium, renowned for its expertise in sustainable colour production.


                                                       
commission
exhibition
vernissage
finissage


curator   
scenography 
collaborators
      


funding and support

 

z33 house for contemporary art 
colour - seeing beyond pigment
may 8, 2025
august 24, 2025

creators and collaborators
annelies thoelen
woman cave collective
kask & conservatorium & laboratorium bio
vub (sustainable engineering materials group)
ugent (evolution and optics of nanostructures)

saastamonen foundation
finnish cultural institute benelux
suomen kulttuurirahasto
onderzoeksfonds kunsten hogent