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If you're planning washroom remodeling, it's advisable to steer clear of hiring this German artist to handle it.

Certainly, she's an expert with a silicone gun, producing intriguing creations out of an unusual medium. However the more examine the artworks, the clearer it becomes apparent that something feels slightly unnerving.

The thick tubes made of silicone she produces stretch beyond the shelves where they rest, drooping off the edges below. The knotty tubular forms bulge before bursting open. Some creations escape the display cases completely, becoming an attractor for dust and hair. One could imagine the ratings would not be favorable.

There are moments I feel the feeling that items seem animated inside an area,” remarks the German artist. This is why I turned to this substance due to its a distinctly physical texture and feeling.”

Certainly one can detect almost visceral regarding the artist's creations, from the phallic bulge that protrudes, similar to a rupture, off its base within the showspace, to the intestinal coils of foam that burst like medical emergencies. On one wall, Herfeldt has framed images of the works seen from various perspectives: resembling squirming organisms observed under magnification, or colonies on culture plates.

“It interests me is the idea inside human forms taking place that also have their own life,” she says. “Things you can’t see or control.”

On the subject of unmanageable factors, the promotional image featured in the exhibition includes a picture of the leaky ceiling within her workspace in Kreuzberg, Berlin. Constructed made in the seventies as she explains, was instantly hated among the community as numerous older edifices got demolished for its development. By the time dilapidated when Herfeldt – a native of that city yet raised north of Hamburg prior to moving to the capital during her teens – took up residence.

This deteriorating space proved challenging for the artist – placing artworks was difficult her art works without fearing risk of ruin – yet it also proved fascinating. Lacking architectural drawings available, it was unclear the way to fix the malfunctions which occurred. Once an overhead section at the artist's area got thoroughly soaked it fell apart fully, the only solution involved installing it with another – and so the cycle continued.

Elsewhere on the property, she describes the water intrusion was severe that a series of shower basins were set up above the false roof to divert leaks to another outlet.

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

These conditions reminded her of Dark Star, John Carpenter’s debut movie from the seventies featuring a smart spaceship which becomes autonomous. And as you might notice given the naming – three distinct names – more movies have inspired to have influenced this exhibition. Those labels refer to main characters in the slasher film, another scary movie plus the sci-fi hit in that order. The artist references a 1987 essay written by Carol J Clover, outlining these “final girls” an original movie concept – female characters isolated to triumph.

These figures are somewhat masculine, rather quiet enabling their survival thanks to resourcefulness,” the artist explains of the archetypal final girl. No drug use occurs or engage intimately. It is irrelevant the audience's identity, everyone can relate to the survivor.”

The artist identifies a parallel between these characters with her creations – objects which only staying put despite the pressures they face. Does this mean the art focused on societal collapse rather than simply dripping roofs? Because like so many institutions, substances like silicone that should seal and protect us from damage are gradually failing within society.

“Absolutely,” she confirms.

Before finding inspiration in the silicone gun, she experimented with other unusual materials. Recent shows included tongue-like shapes crafted from fabric similar to found in on a sleeping bag or inside a jacket. Once more, there's the impression these strange items could come alive – a few are compressed like caterpillars mid-crawl, pieces hang loosely on vertical planes or extend through entries attracting dirt from footprints (The artist invites people to handle leaving marks on pieces). Like the silicone sculptures, those fabric pieces also occupy – and breaking out of – inexpensive-seeming transparent cases. They’re ugly looking things, which is intentional.

“The sculptures exhibit a specific look that somehow you feel very attracted to, while also appearing gross,” Herfeldt remarks amusedly. “The art aims for invisible, yet in reality extremely obvious.”

The artist does not create work to make you feel comfortable or aesthetically soothed. Rather, she aims for unease, odd, maybe even amused. However, should you notice something wet dripping overhead too, don’t say you haven’t been warned.