Lisa Roet
I wanted the works to reflect my ongoing visual art practice but with the idea of the works being more accessible as well as physically wearable. The fingers are 10cm tall not 200cm tall. The bracelets can sit on a bedside table as a small sculpture, while also travelling on the arm as a bracelet. I like the idea of the monkey's hand and finger being physically in the hands, on the arms, fingers and necks of the human.
For the past 25 years Lisa Roet has been working with the image of the ape and monkey. Environmental issues, genetic discoveries and the evolving place of humanity within nature are themes addressed in her art practice.
Through an interdisciplinary approach to her practice Lisa has worked consistently with primatologists, geneticists, zoologists and taxonomists to research and gather the information needed to make the works. This has included research at zoos, laboratories and museum archives worldwide, as well as field research in Borneo to produce art using a wide range of mediums.
As an extension of her visual art practice, the artist works with jewellery as a way to adorn the human form with the 'Other'... a silver bracelet made from cast gorilla skin hangs on the skin of the human; a gibbon hand wraps itself around the arm of the human wearer as if hanging from his/her arm. The works serve to remind us of our connection with our closest animal relatives and objectify our relationship with the 'Other'.
