When I laugh, he laughs WIth me

BOKITO, When I laugh he laughs with me, 52cm x60cm x44cm (2014)

Lisa Roet

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For over two decades, Lisa Roet has won universal acclaim for her powerful, often disorienting investigations into the complex interface between humans and our simian relatives. Drawing inspiration from a myriad of sources including UHVLGHQFLHV�DW�PDMRU�LQWHUQDWLRQDO�]RRV��¿HOG�VWXG\�RI�DSHV�OLYLQJ�LQ�WKH�IRUHVWV�RI�%RUQHR�DQG�PRVW�UHFHQWO\��WKH�DUWLVW¶V�own heart surgery, her multidisciplinary approach challenges fundamental theories relating to evolution and creationism, language and communication, science and art. Notwithstanding the potentially political nature of her subject however, Roet never indulges in heavy-handed didacticism. To the contrary, her oeuvre is infused with refreshing verve, candour and an inescapable sense of mystery, poignantly highlighting how inextricably linked humans and primates are amid the messy uncertainty of biology, nature and culture.

:LWK�WKH�DSH�DV�KHU�PXVH��5RHW�HQFRXUDJHV�XV�WR�UHÀHFW�XSRQ�SUHYDLOLQJ�DWWLWXGHV�WRZDUGV�WKHVH�UHODWLYHV�ZLWK�ZKRP�ZH�VKDUH�����RI�RXU�'1$�±�WKH�OLQJHULQJ�DQ[LHW\�ZLWK�RXU�HYROXWLRQDU\�SDVW��RXU�XVH�RI�DSHV�IRU�VFLHQWL¿F�DQG�HQWHUWDLQPHQW�purposes; the way in which we project onto apes our own fantasies and culture, while at the same time assuming they are VRPHKRZ�µLQIHULRU¶��)RU�DOO�PRGHUQLW\¶V�DWWHPSW�DW�D�VXSHULRU�UDWLRQDOLW\�DQG�PRGHUQ�DUW¶V�UHVROXWH�GHQLDO�RI�DQLPDOV�DQG�nature, Roet forcefully confounds our identity and sense of difference. Employing her signature bronze, photographic and drawing practice – as well as her groundbreaking new use of echocardiogram and MRI images – When I laugh, he laughs with me reveals another uneasy dimension to the controversial debate over our kinship with primates.

Inspired loosely by the real-life relationship between a gorilla and female spectator at Rotterdam zoo – and betraying REYLRXV�DI¿QLWLHV�ZLWK�WKH�VWRU\�RI�.LQJ�.RQJ�LPPRUWDOLVHG�E\�+ROO\ZRRG�±�WKLV�ODWHVW�ERG\�RI�ZRUN�LV�DUJXDEO\�DPRQJ�WKH�DUWLVW¶V�PRVW�FRPSHOOLQJ�\HW��H[SORULQJ�ELRORJLFDO��FXOWXUDO�DQG�YLVXDO�SDUDOOHOV�EHWZHHQ�WKH�DSH�KXPDQ�KHDUW��QRWLRQV�RI�ORYH�DQG�WKH�µSK\VLFDOLW\¶�RI�URPDQFH��

�1RW�VXUSULVLQJO\��/LVD¶V�H[SORUDWLRQV�LQWR�WKH�SV\FKRORJ\��EHKDYLRU�DQG�WKH�VRXO�RI�VLPLDQ�KXPDQ�UHODWLRQV�KDYH�DWWUDFWHG�DQ�impressive number of art awards and grants including the prestigious: Geelong Gallery Acquisitive Print Award, Australia (2013), Deakin University Small Sculpture Award, Australia (2012), Fremantle Print Award, Australia (2011), McClelland Gallery and Sculpture Park Sculpture Survey & Award, Australia (2005), Mornington Peninsular Regional Gallery, Vic, Australia, National Works on Paper Award, Australian National Gallery National Sculpture Prize, Australia (2003). She is the recipient of the Australia Council for the Arts, Creative Partnerships with Asia Grant, 2014.

�6LQFH�KHU�¿UVW�VKRZ�DW�4XHUKDXVH�*DOOHU\��%HUOLQ�LQ�������/LVD�KDV�EHHQ�UHSUHVHQWHG�E\�JDOOHULHV�LQ�$XVWUDOLD��%HOJLXP��and the USA. Exhibitions have included: Monkey Grip, Deakin University Art Gallery, Melbourne, which toured various regional galleries throughout Victoria, Australia (2013-14), When I laugh, He laughs with me��.DUHQ�:RRGEXU\�*DOOHU\��Melbourne, Australia (2014), Chengdu Biennale, China, 2013, Lisa Roet, Gow Langsford Gallery, Auckland, New Zealand, In-Sight��$QQH[H�*DOOHU\��.XDOD�/XPSXU��0DOD\VLD��������McClelland Sculpture Survey & Award, McClelland Gallery + Sculpture Park, Mornington Peninsula, Australia (2014, 2005 & 2003), Den Hagg Sculptuur 2007/The Hague Sculpture 2007��7KH�+DJXH��7KH�1HWKHUODQGV��������Satellite Project (12 Australian Artists)��6KDQJKDL�%LHQQDOH��&KLQD���������Kiss of the Beast��4XHHQVODQG�$UW�*DOOHU\��%ULVEDQH��$XVWUDOLD���������Ape and The Bunnyman, LiebmanMagnan Gallery New York, USA (2001).

/LVD�KDV�DOVR� IHDWXUHG� LQ�$XVWUDOLDQ�$UW�&ROOHFWRU¶V� µ���0RVW�&ROOHFWLEOH�$UWLVWV¶�DQG� LV� WKH�VXEMHFW�RI�D�FRPSUHKHQVLYH�monograph by Alexie Glass titled Lisa Roet: Uncommon Observations�WKDW�ZDV�SXEOLVKHG�E\�7KDPHV�DQG�+XGVRQ�LQ�������/LVD�DQG�KHU�ZRUN�ZDV�DOVR�WKH�IHDWXUH�RI�DQ�$XVWUDOLDQ�%URDGFDVWLQJ�&RUSRUDWLRQ�GRFXPHQWDU\�WLWOHG�APELADY, which ZDV�SURGXFHG�E\�.ODXV�7RIW�LQ������DQG�VKH�LV�WKH�VXEMHFW�RI�D�GRFXPHQWDU\�E\�¿OPPDNHU�&HOHVWH�*HHU�WR�EH�UHOHDVHG� in 2016.

For further information:lisaroet@yahoo.com0RELOH�������������������lisaroet.com

Lisa Roet

Ape Finger, %ODFN�DQG�*ROG�$IJKDQL�0DUEOH�� 160 x45 x100 cm (2014)

Chimp. Thumb, +RQH\�2Q\[���FP�[��FP�[��FP�������

Gorilla Thumb, Peacock Red and White marble, China, 85cm x30cm x50cm (2014)

Orangutan Thumb, Carrara marble, 85cm x25cm x35cm (2014)

HUMANZEE Pt 4, 105cm x 165cm C type photography (2014)

HUMANZEE Pt 3, 130 x 161.5 cm C type photography (2014)

HUMANZEE Pt 2, 130 x 161.5 cm C type photography (2014)

HUMANZEE Pt 1, 130 x 161.5 cm C type photography (2014)

Beat 2, Human, 4x plate Lithograph, 112x63cm (2014) Beat, Gorilla, 4x Plate Lithograph, 112 x63cm (2014) Beat, Human, 4x plate Lithograph,112x63cm (2014)

Blond Venus 1932, 116cm x163cm, C type photography (2014)

Bride of the Gorilla 1951, 116cm x163cm, C type photography (2014)

Gorille enlevent une femme / Gorilla Carrying off a woman, 1951, 116cm x163cm, C type photography (2014)

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