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Visser, Lisa
Hyena One Hyena One
2009 2009

The hyena series layers a cosy craft aesthetic with defiant rage, desperation and self-deprecating humour. Beside a large image of an open-mouthed hyena, block lettering spells, “I don’t care what she says.” Does the hyena laugh? Perhaps it shouts? Maybe it yawns. The donor, Julian Higuerey Nunez, who is also an artist and was the late artist’s partner, writes this about the use of hyenas in the work: “Lisa’s fascination with the hyena as signifier came from the often rejected but strangely human-like way in which they behave. They are generally regarded, if not as evil, certainly as pests and undesirable, and yet they are very smart and social and vocal. This last part I believe is important as we tend to think of hyenas as simultaneously laughing and crying. Lisa’s art from this time was very emotion driven and centered on the essentialized vocalization of emotion through language. Particularly that used broadly in culture. Both these quilts then have these universally aspiring ultimatums originating in a voice that reflects an ugly humanity, or an aspect of the self that one wouldn’t want as public.”

Visser, Lisa
Newmarket ON 1983-Toronto ON 2013 Newmarket ON 1983-Toronto ON 2013
Hyena One Hyena One
2009 2009
quilted and appliqué cotton fabric quilted and appliqué cotton fabric
135.0 x 198.0 cm
Gift of friends and family of Lisa Visser, 2016 Gift of friends and family of Lisa Visser, 2016
Q16-001.01

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