Lisette Ros, born in the Netherlands in 1991, is a conceptual and performance artist whose work delves into the intricate interplay between society, identity, and the human experience. Using her body as a medium for exploration, she unveils the underlying mechanisms that shape our daily lives and scrutinizes societal norms.
Identifying as humanimal, woman, queer, and fluid, Ros embodies a hybrid existence that transcends conventional categories. Her performances, characterized by recognizable elements, serve as a lens through which she analyzes routines, questions conventions, and challenges the self-evidence of daily rhythms. Her art exposes the consequences of socio-cultural practices, with a unique twist—her persona is inseparable from the narrative.
The core of Ros’ artistic expression lies in her body, the focal point where questions about identity, society, and existence are posed and explored. Despite the centrality of her physical presence, the conceptual aspect always takes precedence. This results in interdisciplinary outcomes, where her body becomes a tool for research, and the final expression may manifest in various forms of media, all in service of conveying a profound message.
In her performances, Ros employs reiterations of gestures and acts, deliberately heightening the discomfort experienced by the spectator. Her body becomes a symbol, a tool, and flesh simultaneously—a multifaceted canvas for her exploration. The visceral nature of her work reflects a deep-seated desire for understanding that can only be achieved through the embodiment of feelings, vulnerabilities, flesh, and blood. Ros bleeds, breathes, wonders—an artist navigating the complex terrain of existence through her art.
CURRENT DATES:
- 06-12-2023 / 10-12-2023: My Self, the Body (2018) video work at Art Basel Miami, Miami, Florida, as part of the exhibition by PerformVu, Miami, USA.
- 21-12-2023: My Self, the Fetus (2015) live performance as part of ‘Resonate’ exhibition by Elsemarijn Bruys, DS, Amsterdam, NL.
- 22-12-2023: I Bruise Like A Peach (2022/2023) live performance at Fanny Freytag and Dick & Dick, Amsterdam, NL.
- 08-03-2024 / 07-04-2024: “Presence in Absence” piece two and three, deriving of the performative research The Absence or Metamorphosis “Presence in Absence” piece, installation-objects and two new live performance experiments at Arti et Amicitiae, Amsterdam, NL. As part of the group exhibition ‘Everything is on the One’.
Stay notified by adding your contact. - New 10-03-2024: New live performance “Presence in Absence” piece two, Arti et Amicitiae, Amsterdam, NL. Stay notified by adding your contact.
- New tba-2024: “Presence in Absence” piece three, live performance experiment at Arti et Amicitiae, Amsterdam, NL. More info coming soon, stay notified by adding your contact.
- 07-04-2024: …Elk rondje is anders during Quarantine, video screening at De Trut, Amsterdam, NL
- 05-05-2024: Teaser presentation of My Self, the (Unfamiliar) Roots during ‘De Vrijheidsshow’ at Museum Sophiahof and Indisch Herinneringscentrum, Den Haag, NL
- 12-05-2024: My Self, the (Unfamiliar) Roots (2023 – current) physical launch of part one (IDN) and premiere of part two (NL), Amsterdam, Den Haag, NL.
- New: The Absence of Metamorphosis “Presence in Absence” piece one
– Performative series in progress, Mexico-City, MEX, 2023 – current. - New: My Self, the (Unfamiliar) Roots
– Sixth part of the ‘My Self’ series, work in progress, Indonesia and The Netherlands, 2023 – current
INTERNATIONAL HIGHLIGHTS:
- ‘My Self, the Body’ video work on display at Art Basel Miami, as part of PerformVu exhibition, Miami, USA.
- ‘My Self, the (Unfamiliar) Roots’ live performance experiment one ‘(the Act of) Uprooting’ at Melati Suryodarmo, Solo, IDN.
- Workshop ‘The Construction of Identity, and the fluidity thereof’ shared at Studio Plesungan, Solo, IDN and at Kaliwungu Performance Festival, Kaliwungu, IDN.
- ‘I’ll dance as fast as I can’ Special Art Nou Edition at Piramídon Centre d’Arte Contemporani, Barcelona, SP.
- ‘The Absence of Metamorphosis’ at Casa Lü Galería, CDMX, MEX.
- ‘Liberation from Definition’ publication Metal Magazine, Barcelona, SP.
- ‘My Self, the Fetus’ at Apiary Studios as part of Aliceex exhibition, London, UK.
- ‘My Humanoid Self, (Heavy) Metal’ live performance and installation at gallerí Korpúlfsstaðir as part of tunglið tunglið taktu mig exhibition, IS.
- ‘My Humanoid Self, (Heavy) Metal’ new work in progress AiR at SIM, Reykjavik, IS.
- ‘My Self, the Fetus’ at The Curators Room – La Oficina BCN, Barcelona: March 2022.
- Artist in Resident at Marina Abramovic, Peloponnese, Greece: September 2021.
- ‘My Self, the (First) Breath’ at SIM Gallery, Reykjavik, Iceland: March 2021.
- ‘DEFENDER’ / NEW VIEWINGS exhibition with video works ‘…elk rondje is anders during Quarantine’, ‘The Mirror’ and an exclusive online performance of ‘Reframing Conventions’ for INTERBELLUM #1 at Barbara Thumm Galerie, Berlin, Germany: October – December 2020.
- ‘Reframing Conventions during Quarantine’ exhibition at Straight Through The Wall, Williamsburg NYC, USA: September 2020.
- ‘INTERVENING SPACE: The Loft’ video screening at Straight Through The Wall, NYC, USA: April 2020.
- ‘The Mirror’ at Oped Gallery, Tokyo, JP, ‘Reflection’ exhibition: March & April 2020.
- ‘TRANCE’ collaboration with Asian Dope Boys (Tianzhuo Chen) at MWoods Museum, Beijing, CN: October – November 2019. Live performance: 36 hours.
- ‘My Self, the Body’ video screening at Uncensored Festival, London, UK: May 2019.
- Launch of ‘My Self, the Body’ at South By Southwest (SXSW), Austin, TX, USA: March 2018.
- ‘Reframing Conventions’ live performance at Venice Architecture Biennale, Venice, Italy: October 2016.
- ‘Reframing Conventions’ live performance and installation at IFFTI Polimoda Conference, Florence, Italy: May 2015.
© Biography by Sara van Bussel
© Lisette Ros