Lisette Ros, an Indo (Dutch-Indian) conceptual and performance artist, uses her body as a medium, material, and source for research. In doing so, she challenges social norms and exposes the consequences of socio-cultural structures. Identifying as a ‘humanimal’, woman and queer, Ros transcends conventional categories. In her concepts, she uses recognizable elements to analyze routines, question conventions, and dissect ingrained patterns and assumptions.
Her interdisciplinary approach emphasizes the central role of her (physical) presence. Her body is both an instrument of research and a field of exploration. Through repetitive gestures, she deliberately evokes discomfort in herself and her audience, embodying feelings and vulnerability to convey a profound message about (human) existence. Ros' work is conditioned by fundamental structures rooted in our primary and everyday behavior and serves as an exploration of identity: who or what am I? Her work has been shown worldwide, including at events such as the Venice Architecture Biennale (2016), South by Southwest (SXSW) in Austin (2018), and MWoods Museum in Beijing (2019).
In 2021, Ros completed a residency with Marina Abramović. She received several grants for her ongoing series “My Self,” in which she explores the self and the process of identification. In 2023, she began the sixth part of this series in Java, Indonesia: My Self, the (Unfamiliar) Roots, under the guidance of performance artist Melati Suryodarmo. In addition to her artistic practice, Ros is also active as an educator and develops learning environments. She gives creative workshops and programs for both young people and adults.
“My Indonesian roots are both the theme and method of my research.”
