Monique Lacey

“In this time of flux and turbulence our ability to make sense of the world seems to have been obliterated. I listen to US political ongoings via CNN in the studio. Donald Trump’s slurred speech and ability to skew a soundbite into a completely new language, is beginning to have a major impact on our culture. This leaves us focussing on memes and not the message. My work speaks to the nature of these circumstances. 

Starting with commercial packaging materials purchased at local hardware store, my work seeks out structural propositions through volume and surface. Materials are assembled and covered with plaster, pigments, wax. While there is an adherence to truth of materials, the materials are used to construct a level of artifice in the work. The transformation and elevation of the ordinariness of the humble, cardboard box fascinates me. Each form is countered by a crushing act that results in a substantial reconfiguration. Performative motion, playful, aggressive and cathartic. 

My work finds it footing in Minimalism, the largely male dominated era, where we found the likes of Donald Judd making anonymous “specific objects”. So being invited to participate in the Mother Mother Project which was initiated by a woman for women was an immediate antidote to that notion. The idea of a non-hierarchical revolving exhibition where each artist nominates another (female) artist was something I connected with. The way the project is run allows for unexpected outcomes by combining artists that are nominated independently. This opens up possibilities for future collaborations that I might otherwise not have considered.  My nomination for the project was Rose Meyer, who also uses cardboard boxes as a starting point for her work, so I was interested in seeing what she would do.”

Monique Lacey x mothermother 2020