The Concept
PEELed explores the often-overlooked layers of wisdom and identity of the elders through the metaphor of citrus peels — typically discarded, yet rich in nutrients. In this installation, the peels of oranges and tangerines are presented as sculptural forms, abstracted yet familiar, evoking the vitality, memory, and resilience embedded in aging bodies and minds.
In many cultures, citrus fruits symbolize health, abundance, and renewal. The peel, though not always eaten, contains the highest concentration of vitamins, just as the elderly in society hold layers of lived experience, intuition, and ancestral knowledge. Too often, this wisdom is ignored or cast aside, especially in fast-moving, youth-focused urban life. This work is a tribute to that intrinsic, unpolished, and essential knowledge.
Each piece is hand-crafted from papier-maché, made using traditional techniques. The fragile yet enduring quality of the material mirrors the aging human body — layered, textured, and shaped by time. Paper, once used to record stories, now becomes the very skin of the work, reinforcing themes of memory, preservation, and transformation.
Currently on exhibit at the Amsterdam Museum, formerly the location of the Hermitage Museum. PEELed invites viewers to pause and reflect on the profound beauty and value embedded in what we often overlook — in both material and human form.
