Makan

From the 8th of January till the 15th of February 2009, visitors to Makan’s gallery in the ‘Centrum Beeldende Kunst’ in Nijmegen can crawl around on an insect’s skin. Artist Maaike Vellinga created a cocoon out of metal and layers of gauze. The cocoon is flaunting to visitors. The smooth sewn gauze gives one an impression of peeled skin. The statue is most interesting when a person actually crawls inside the skin. Random lumps and movements in the body bring the cocoon to life.

Inside, the cocoon is narrow, a strategy Maaike uses to create an area that envelops one, leaving little room for anything else but oneself. For her, the cocoon is an experience of space constrictions.

visitor inside the cocoon.

cocoon is 5.5 metres long and 1.2 metres wide. Inside is a sitting area for visitors to climb into the cocoon. The front part is a flap that can be opened to enter the cocoon.