Exoskelett speaks about the vulnerability of transformation. The intimate act of skinning enables insects growth and a renewal of life. During this moment of metamorphosis, everything is at stake. The animal strips itself of its protective mantle in order to be able to evolve. It accepts the danger of being eaten to make room for a new skin, a new home. The past vanishes, a new life begins. This animal process is translated into human life and questions growth, maturity and renewal as human beings. 

Shibari is a Japanese bondage art. One of the aspects of bondage is to create hold and the feeling of security. The ropes around the body resemble an exoskeleton that protects the sensitive organs. To engage in this requires great trust, similar to the nakedness of a skinning insect. 

Photography: Werner Tschan