PEELed

The Concept

PEELed explores the often-overlooked layers of wisdom and identity 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.

A Series. . .

This evolving body of work explores the metaphor of the orange peel as a symbol of aging, resilience, and overlooked value. Once the fruit is consumed, the peel—often the most nutrient-rich part—is discarded. These sculptures bring that neglected element to the forefront, transforming it into forms that demand space, presence, and attention.

The series is presented in three distinct formats:

• Wall-Mounted Sculptures

  These pieces hug the surface like the skin of the fruit itself, emphasizing contour, texture, and shadow. They interact with the flatness of the wall, appearing to peel away or curl inward, evoking both fragility and strength.

• Hanging Sculptures

  Suspended in air, these sculptures hover and twist, responding to the movement of air and light. Their floating presence underscores the ephemerality and lightness of the peel, creating a sense of suspended transformation or mid-shed identity.

• Freestanding Sculptures

  Rooted to the ground, these forms take up space boldly. Some coil protectively inward, while others stretch outward, mimicking the way a peel might land once released. They assert the dignity and complexity of the cast-off, asking viewers to reconsider what is left behind.