Ruffles and Pearls

In the piece Ruffles and Pearls, Stephanie Voegele transcends the boundaries of the body by simultaneously exploring the interior and exterior. Her use of materials reference both garments and flesh and create a surface that may be seen as both beautiful and repugnant, depending on the viewer's associations. The use of pearls captured within the silicone rubber allude to the epitome of decorum, the pearl necklace, while also speaking to the origin of pearls themselves, the specks of grit and irritation that become part of an oyster's flesh.