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When considering washroom remodeling, you may want to avoid hiring the sculptor to handle it.

Truly, Herfeldt is a whiz in handling foam materials, crafting compelling sculptures out of an unusual substance. Yet the more look at the artworks, the stronger one notices that something feels slightly strange.

The dense lengths made of silicone she crafts extend over their supports where they rest, drooping downwards towards the floor. Those twisted silicone strands expand until they split. A few artworks leave the display cases fully, becoming an attractor for grime and particles. One could imagine the reviews might not get favorable.

At times I get this sense that objects seem animated within a space,” says Herfeldt. This is why I turned to silicone sealant because it has such an organic feel and appearance.”

Certainly there is an element rather body horror in the artist's creations, starting with the phallic bulge that protrudes, hernia-like, from its cylindrical stand in the centre of the gallery, to the intestinal coils from the material that burst like medical emergencies. Displayed nearby, are mounted images depicting the sculptures viewed from different angles: appearing as wormy parasites picked up on a microscope, or colonies on culture plates.

“It interests me is the idea within us occurring that also have a life of their own,” she says. Elements which remain unseen or command.”

Talking of unmanageable factors, the poster promoting the event features a photograph showing a dripping roof at her creative space located in Berlin. The building had been erected decades ago and according to her, was instantly hated from residents as numerous older edifices were removed for its development. By the time dilapidated when Herfeldt – originally from Munich but grew up north of Hamburg prior to moving to the capital during her teens – moved in.

The rundown building caused issues for the artist – placing artworks was difficult her pieces anxiously they might be damaged – however, it was intriguing. With no building plans on hand, no one knew how to repair the problems that arose. After a part of the roof at the artist's area became so sodden it collapsed entirely, the single remedy was to replace the damaged part – perpetuating the issue.

Elsewhere on the property, the artist explains the water intrusion was severe so multiple shower basins got placed in the suspended ceiling to channel the water to a different sink.

It dawned on me that the structure resembled an organism, an entirely malfunctioning system,” Herfeldt states.

These conditions evoked memories of the sci-fi movie, John Carpenter’s debut 1974 film featuring a smart spaceship that takes on a life of its own. And as you might notice through the heading – Alice, Laurie & Ripley – other cinematic works influenced impacting this exhibition. Those labels indicate the leading women from a horror classic, the iconic thriller and the extraterrestrial saga respectively. She mentions a 1987 essay from a scholar, which identifies these surviving characters as a unique film trope – female characters isolated to save the day.

These figures are somewhat masculine, rather quiet and they endure due to intelligence,” the artist explains regarding this trope. “They don’t take drugs nor sexual activity. Regardless the viewer’s gender, we can all identify with the final girl.”

The artist identifies a connection from these protagonists and her sculptures – objects which only maintaining position amidst stress affecting them. So is her work focused on social breakdown rather than simply leaky ceilings? As with many structures, such components that should seal and protect against harm are actually slowly eroding within society.

“Completely,” says Herfeldt.

Before finding inspiration using foam materials, she experimented with other unusual materials. Past displays included forms resembling tongues crafted from the kind of nylon fabric found in in insulated clothing or in coats. Once more, there's the feeling these peculiar objects could come alive – certain pieces are folded resembling moving larvae, others lollop down from walls blocking passages attracting dirt from footprints (The artist invites audiences to interact and dirty her art). Like the silicone sculptures, those fabric pieces are similarly displayed in – and breaking out of – cheap looking display enclosures. They’re ugly looking things, and really that’s the point.

“These works possess a specific look that somehow you feel very attracted to, and at the same time being quite repulsive,” she says with a smile. “The art aims for not there, but it’s actually highly noticeable.”

Herfeldt's goal isn't pieces that offer comfortable or aesthetically soothed. Instead, she aims for discomfort, odd, maybe even amused. However, should you notice water droplets overhead too, don’t say this was foreshadowed.