‘Elephants are afraid of mice.’
‘Rabbits like carrots best.’
‘The earth is round.’
‘The sky is blue.’
‘This is a green balloon.’

From myth to philosophy, New York artist Mike Lash recorded a series of ‘lies’ (mainly composed of common-world perceptions) his neighbour Tim told his son Leo. Lash then created a series of oil paintings and a book called ‘Lies for Leo’ based on them, portraying the fact that adults pass on their half-truths (which eventually turned into lies) to their children.

Exhibited in agnès b. Paris and Tokyo, ‘Lies for Leo’ is coming to agnès b. Hong Kong next. Apart from the array of rainbow-colour balloon installation, the artist is also tailoring the Hong Kong show with the ‘Shengxiao’ series (based on the Chinese lunar calendar Twelve Branches animals). Each in the shape of an animal mask, something the children ought to embrace.

Mike’s world is made up of simple words and brush strokes. Having been showing in the U.S., France, Switzerland, Yugoslavia and Japan for the past twenty five years, many have made their ways to various permanent museum collections. As if he himself is somewhat puzzled, Mike said ‘I am not sure if art has been spreading the truths or lies in human history’. The absolute truth is never a motto of the imaginative world. Underneath ‘Lies for Leo’ are some wondrous lies that we love to hear — the sky is blue, the rabbits love eating carrots. At least sometime.

Text: Carmen Lee | Translation: dilettante | Photo: Anthony Chan
Update: 21 Jul 2009

agnès b.’s LIBRAIRIE GALERIE
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