'Lisa Roet: Golden Monkey' launches in Beijing

On the occasion of Beijing Design Week 2016 and China’s Golden Week, and to coincide with the Year of The Monkey, acclaimed Australian visual artist Lisa Roet presents 'Golden Monkey'.

Lisa Roet: Golden Monkey

To celebrate Beijing Design Week and Golden Week, Asialink Arts collaborated with acclaimed Australian artist Lisa Roet to install a giant inflatable sculpture of a golden snub-nosed monkey on the iconic façade of The Opposite House Hotel in the vibrant Sanlitun art and commercial district of Beijing.

Titled ‘Golden Monkey’, the sculpture measures 14 metres tall and will remain on display until 30 October. Elevated 30 metres off the ground, it is attached to the front of the hotel’s green geometric façade with 12 suckers to appear as though the monkey is climbing the hotel building and looking down on passers-by.

Designed and fabricated in Melbourne by Airena, the ‘Golden Monkey’ is a stunning example of Victorian technology, expertise and workmanship exported for display in the heart of China’s capital.

The sculpture is styled after the golden sneezing snub-nosed monkey, a rare species native to the forest region along the China-Myanmar border, with only about 400 left as a result of aggressive hunting and habitat destruction. It is also the same species that the famous mythological Monkey King ‘Sun Wukong’ from the Chinese epic ‘Journey to the West’ is popularly styled after.

In additional to its cultural significance, the sculpture carries a global message about conservation. The snub-nosed monkey is now critically endangered due to heavy logging, dwindling habitats and human consumption. It is also named for its distinctive flat nose, the product of thousands of years of evolution. The shape of its nose helps it survive in cold climates by catching melting frost, and also causes it to sneeze in rainy weather. With temperatures rising around the world at a rapid pace, it may be forced out of its natural habitat to seek more suitable climates, placing the entire species at risk.

The fragility of the inflatable sculpture represents the vulnerability of this treasured mascot, while the urban surroundings of Sanlitun draw a strong contrast to its woodland habitat in Yunnan, expressing its displacement from its natural home.

Roet’s work is featured both outside and inside The Opposite House, with a collection of her avant-garde jewellery displayed in the hotel foyer. Fashioned after primate features, each exquisitely detailed piece matches with the wearer’s human features to create a visual expression of the close connection between humans and apes.

“The Opposite House is known for its brand philosophy of presenting cutting-edge art to its community, and we are lucky to receive huge support from the hotel to bring this project to fruition. Through my work, I want to empower the ape or monkey with whom we share in excess of 98% of our DNA, and invite humans to connect with these relatives and reflect on who we are,” said Roet.

Roet, a Melbourne based artist, has spent the past 25 years working with the image of the ape and monkey to express her lifelong passion for the science of genetic evolution. She has been represented by galleries in Australia, Belgium and the USA, and has held over 25 solo exhibitions worldwide. In recent years she has made her mark in China’s art scene, featuring at prestigious events such as the Shanghai Biennale and Chengdu Biennale, and collaborating with local artist Shen Shaomin.

“We felt Lisa Roet’s sculpture was the perfect way to celebrate Beijing Design Week and Golden Week, as it is light-hearted yet culturally significant. Its deeper message on conserving the environment and China’s precious natural heritage is also something we at The Opposite House hold close to our hearts,” said Mark Passmore, general manager, The Opposite House. 

‘Lisa Roet: Golden Monkey’ has been supported by Asialink Arts, Creative Victoria, The Australian China Council, The Australian Embassy-Beijing and the Opposite House Hotel.

For more information on the project- Lisa Roet: Golden Monkey

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Louise Joel

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