This work was created using the pâte de verre technique.

Since the pandemic, the term 'Skin hunger' is no longer unfamiliar. In one way or another, everyone has felt it. Some have suffered because of it; others have at least come to realize the importance of close human contact.

When I set out to visually translate this feeling into glass, I found myself inspired by microscopic images of the skin's various layers. These striking photos of cell clusters revealed fluid motions—flows of cells within and between these clusters. There was something in that movement to explore...

Reflecting the softness of skin, I chose gentle pink hues. As I worked with different colors and complex layering, I discovered how opaque tones could play a major role in making transparent colors more prominent.

Drawing on my background as a sculptor, I first attempted to recreate the layered structure of skin in three dimensions. However, finding that it didn’t quite convey the feeling I wanted, I continued with a two-dimensional approach, resulting in a large wall panel.

Layer by layer, I placed “glass skin cells” onto a glass plate, scattering glass granules between them to create color transitions. The entire piece was then fused together in the kiln. Once complete, the glass was sandblasted and oiled, resulting in a satin-soft finish that evokes the feel of skin.

When this project began in September 2021, the feeling of “huidhonger” was central. Every day, you could hear about the impact and emotional consequences for many people following the pandemic restrictions.

Throughout the process, I experimented with the effects that could be achieved using glass granules, gradually letting go of the feeling itself, and even of the microscopic images as direct reference. Instead, I lost myself in the play of colors and in shaping the image that formed the basis of this design.

Project duration

From September 2021 to June 2024.

Dimensions

Wall panel measuring 2m x 2m, composed of 16 tiles measuring 48cm x 48cm each.

Small panels set in a welded frame: 1m x 1m, consisting of 4 plates measuring 40cm x 40cm each.

The smallest panels for wall-mounted lighting: measuring 20cm x 20cm.

Photography by Koen Geens