Lisa Roet: McClelland Award 2005 Recipient
White ape 2005
coated fibreglass
210.0 x 285.0 x 150.0 cm (ape)
100.0 x 300.0 x 150.0 cm (base)
White ape is part of my ongoing project Pri-mates, which is the culmination of my research into man’s relationship with our closest animal relatives, the apes. White ape is classically portrayed in a traditional bust format, thus equating the ape with great leaders or highly esteemed noblemen, bestowing it with regal stature and intellectual posture.
The sculpture reflects upon human nature’s vicarious position within the animal world and our contribution to the environment that we live in. The work could be seen as a monument to our achievements, or as a reminder of the destruction of our environment. Science, art, history, popular culture and philosophical debate formulate the conceptual basis behind White ape. In his 1887 work Gorilla carrying off a woman, the French artist Emmanuel Fremiet reflected upon Charles Darwin’s controversial theory of evolution and the changing debate on human origins. I hope White ape will reflect our own contemporary debate on genetics, evolution and environment.
The Pri-mates project has been extensively exhibited within Australia and worldwide over the past 10 years and was awarded the National Gallery of Australia/Macquarie Bank National Sculpture Prize in 2003.
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