# No. 23 – Expina

A creature of black shells whose neon yellow undersides light up with the angle of view — strict geometry with an alien exterior.

- **Completed:** August 9, 2026
- **Size:** 101 × 51 × 12 cm
- **Edition:** Unique artwork, handcrafted
- **Material:** Canson Graduate black drawing paper 120 g/m²; MarpaJansen coloured drawing paper, fluorescent bright yellow 140 g/m²
- **Substrate:** Modulor display and presentation board, black, 2200 g/m²
- **Frame:** wood lacquered in black and neon yellow
- **Parts:** 342 shell elements and one centre piece

The name is made of externus (alien) and spina (spine).

Out of a dark centre unfolds a dense structure of pointed shell elements that continuously change their size and their height.

Their black surfaces hide a second, intense layer of colour, the colour of a warning: the undersides glow in neon yellow and come forward more or less strongly depending on the angle of view. The frame takes part in this play of colour too.

Despite the strict geometry the form appears organic: a lamellar spine juts out at the centre, and all around it half-opened petals unfold — a creature with an almost aggressive, alien exterior.

## Images

![The work in its black frame with a neon yellow inner edge, the fan growing out of a spine at the left edge](https://larigami.de/_astro/1.CA97vjAU_ZSEwfJ.webp)

![A grazing view across the surface, rows of pointed shells converging on the dark centre](https://larigami.de/_astro/2.2qIFj1Hg_1umH9B.webp)

![Close-up of the transition, the shells glowing neon yellow on the left and standing black on the right](https://larigami.de/_astro/3.CiS4wg4x_2gPHfP.webp)

![Detail of the black side, the edges of the shells drawn upwards as thin yellow lines](https://larigami.de/_astro/4.DvRpZkO7_Z2jsS9x.webp)

![A close view of the centre line, yellow tips on one side and black arcs on the other](https://larigami.de/_astro/5.BKVr_qoV_Z1XwlGd.webp)

![The work lying flat on the floor, the yellow tips rising towards the centre](https://larigami.de/_astro/6.DyGEKcKU_kcOl7.webp)

![The black side seen close up, yellow edges tracing every single shell](https://larigami.de/_astro/7.C37UlAY8_XRgT2.webp)

![Macro shot of the centre, the yellow shells standing up like half-opened petals](https://larigami.de/_astro/8.T3yoZYVv_Z1TWYle.webp)

![The framed work on a dark green wall above a yellow-green sofa](https://larigami.de/_astro/9.CINCgNIT_Z2q0O03.webp)

## Videos

- [The camera travelling across the field of spines, the yellow undersides turning to black as it goes](https://cdn.larigami.de/videos/artworks/23/a.mp4)
- [A close pass across the shells and into the dark centre](https://cdn.larigami.de/videos/artworks/23/b.mp4)
- [The construction drawing of the shell element appearing beside the work and fading again](https://cdn.larigami.de/videos/artworks/23/c.mp4)

_© 2026 Larisa Semke – larigami.de. Any use requires prior permission: https://larigami.de/en/imprint/_

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- This page on larigami.de: https://larigami.de/en/artworks/23/
- Deutsche Version: https://larigami.de/de/artworks/23/