Ecdysis, or the process of shedding skin, like snakes do when they grow larger, comes from the Greek word ékdysis, which means “getting out” or “escape.” Growing can feel like a multitude of needles or nails hammered from within; it itches and burns like sandpaper.
Growing is additive and subtractive at the same time. From the inside, matter pushes matter, tissues and substances. The outermost cuticular layer expands, cracks, peels off, and flakes.
Inspired by nature, for example the way in which trees shed barks sometimes because of stress or excessive heat, Yasmine explores ecdysis, escape and the process (and pain) of change and transformation through drawing and paper manipulation using unconventional drawing tools — hammers, sand paper, sewing stitch roulettes, etc.
![]()
Yasmine Abbas, Ecdysis Series, 2015. Photograph © Coddy Goddard
Growing is additive and subtractive at the same time. From the inside, matter pushes matter, tissues and substances. The outermost cuticular layer expands, cracks, peels off, and flakes.
Inspired by nature, for example the way in which trees shed barks sometimes because of stress or excessive heat, Yasmine explores ecdysis, escape and the process (and pain) of change and transformation through drawing and paper manipulation using unconventional drawing tools — hammers, sand paper, sewing stitch roulettes, etc.
Yasmine Abbas, Ecdysis Series, 2015. Photograph © Coddy Goddard