Hella Gerlach's Collagen Sculptures Float at Acappella Gallery in Naples

At Acappella gallery in Naples, German artist Hella Gerlach (b. 1977) presents 'Collagen', an exhibition of seven performative sculptures that float like interconnected planets. The works are made from felted wool sourced from a llama, a sheep, and a Japanese dog, transformed into semi-organic forms that evoke stalactites. Suspended by elastic and metal cables, the sculptures sway and vibrate, appearing alive. The exhibition explores collagen—the body's most abundant protein—as a metaphor for elasticity, connection, and transformation. Visitors are invited to touch the soft, woolly textures, making the show a collective process. This is Gerlach's fifth exhibition at Acappella; her previous show 'Loose joints' featured inflatables that moved with viewers. The artist's practice examines balance, mutability, and the body as a site of tension and equilibrium, echoing Lao-tzu's philosophy.