The late, great Australian artist Pat Larter rewrote the book on female desire and sexuality, throwing out hoary old conventions and busting stupid stereotypes. So much more than the muse of husband and fellow artist Richard Larter, Pat Larter Get Arted is the showcase shetruly deserves. The first solo exhibition of her work to be hosted in a public art museum, it’s long overdue.
From her home in Luddenham, west of Sydney, Larter became one of the major voices in the international - and fiercely anti-establishment - mail art movement, coining the term ‘femail’ art. Her involvement in the movement saw her participate in hundreds of international exhibitions. Larter corresponded with artists from all corners of the world, sending them photographs of her performances as well as her films, screen prints and collages.
Revealing a collaborative, provocative, humorous and ultimately joyful artistic practice spanning three decades, Larter’s work centred the female gaze, exploring exciting new angles on gender and the body. Co-curator Lisa Catt says, “This exhibition explores the commitment and energy she brought to her practice, and the generosity of spirit she offered to all those she knew. Pat brought her inimitable brand of feminism to everything she did. From her performances, where the traditions of vaudeville and burlesque theatre meet 1970s gender and body politics, to her transgressive and bawdy contributions to the mail art movement, Pat’s work is both a provocation and a delight to encounter.”
Dying in 1996, Richard gifted her incredible archive to AGNSW three years later, and now you can get a proper look at her multi-disciplinary practice that encompasses film, photography, performance art videos, collage and printmaking.
Pat Larter Get Arted opens November 14, running to sometime in 2021.
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