Touchables were part of the installation Collection, presented at Fleur van den Berg’s graduation exhibition at the Gerrit Rietveld Academie. The work consisted of a cabinet filled with strange, brightly colored objects made of glass, feathers and textiles. Among them were two large plush forms and a tiny human figure. While the cabinet itself was modern, its content echoed the tradition of Wunderkammern: cabinets of curiosities combining naturalia, man-made artifacts and exotic objects.

The installation invited not only looking but also touching. Driven by her own urge to feel textures, Van den Berg allowed visitors to handle the Touchables. This created a playful yet ambivalent experience: permission to touch sometimes led to careless handling, while secrecy or exclusivity made the act of touching more attentive and concentrated. The work revealed how the sense of touch changes perception, and how fragility and value heighten awareness.

Touchables
1996-1998
glass and textiles