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When considering washroom remodeling, it's advisable to avoid hiring Lisa Herfeldt for such tasks.

Indeed, Herfeldt is a whiz with a silicone gun, creating compelling artworks out of an unusual art material. However as you observe her creations, the more it becomes apparent that something is a little off.

The dense tubes made of silicone Herfeldt forms stretch past display surfaces on which they sit, sagging off the edges below. The gnarled tubular forms expand till they rupture. Some creations leave the display cases fully, becoming an attractor for dust and hair. Let's just say the feedback would not be favorable.

There are moments I feel the feeling that objects are alive within a space,” says the sculptor. Hence I came to use this foam material due to its a distinctly physical texture and feeling.”

Indeed there’s something rather body horror in these sculptures, starting with the phallic bulge jutting out, like a medical condition, from its cylindrical stand in the centre of the gallery, or the gut-like spirals made of silicone that rupture like medical emergencies. On one wall, Herfeldt has framed prints depicting the sculptures seen from various perspectives: appearing as wormy parasites picked up on a microscope, or colonies in a lab setting.

What captivates me that there are things inside human forms happening that seem to hold a life of their own,” the artist notes. “Things you can’t see or control.”

Regarding unmanageable factors, the promotional image promoting the event features a picture of water damage overhead at her creative space located in Berlin. Constructed erected decades ago as she explains, was quickly despised among the community because a lot of historic structures were torn down to allow its construction. The place was in a state of disrepair when Herfeldt – originally from Munich yet raised north of Hamburg before arriving in Berlin during her teens – took up residence.

This deteriorating space proved challenging to Herfeldt – placing artworks was difficult the sculptures without concern risk of ruin – however, it was compelling. Lacking architectural drawings on hand, no one knew methods to address the problems that developed. After a part of the roof within her workspace was saturated enough it collapsed entirely, the sole fix involved installing it with another – thus repeating the process.

At another site, Herfeldt says dripping was extreme that a series of collection units were installed in the suspended ceiling to channel leaks to another outlet.

It dawned on me that this place resembled an organism, a completely flawed entity,” Herfeldt states.

This scenario evoked memories of the sci-fi movie, the initial work movie from the seventies about an AI-powered spacecraft which becomes autonomous. Additionally, observers may note given the naming – a trio of references – more movies have inspired to have influenced the artist's presentation. Those labels indicate the female protagonists in the slasher film, another scary movie and the extraterrestrial saga in that order. Herfeldt cites an academic paper from a scholar, that describes the last women standing a distinctive cinematic theme – female characters isolated to save the day.

They often display toughness, on the silent side and they endure due to intelligence,” says Herfeldt regarding this trope. “They don’t take drugs or engage intimately. It is irrelevant the audience's identity, all empathize with the final girl.”

She draws a similarity from these protagonists to her artworks – elements that barely maintaining position despite the pressures they’re under. Is the exhibition really concerning societal collapse beyond merely leaky ceilings? Similar to various systems, these materials meant to insulate and guard against harm in fact are decaying in our environment.

“Completely,” she confirms.

Earlier in her career in the silicone gun, Herfeldt used other unusual materials. Past displays included tongue-like shapes crafted from fabric similar to found in within outdoor gear or apparel lining. Again there is the feeling these peculiar objects seem lifelike – certain pieces are folded as insects in motion, pieces hang loosely from walls or spill across doorways collecting debris from touch (The artist invites viewers to touch and dirty her art). Like the silicone sculptures, these nylon creations are similarly displayed in – and escaping from – budget-style transparent cases. They’re ugly looking things, which is intentional.

“They have a particular style that draws viewers very attracted to, yet simultaneously being quite repulsive,” she says grinning. “The art aims for invisible, however, it is extremely obvious.”

Herfeldt is not making art to provide ease or beauty. Rather, she wants you to feel unease, strange, perhaps entertained. However, should you notice a moist sensation on your head additionally, consider yourself this was foreshadowed.