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A smile becomes a grimace as the world spins -- it is funny, the sound of laughter --
it is like god's hands on the shoulders of a troubled world


Bus Projects, Melbourne
October 31 - November 19, 2018

An iterative and evolving exhibition at Bus Projects between 31st October - 24th November organised by Spencer Lai.


An exhibition text Fucky, With Compliments by Audrey Schmidt can be read here
A review by Francis Plagne from Memo Review can be read here

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First Iteration:

Spencer Lai with Lou Hubbard and Paul McCarthy (with Mike Kelley)

Spencer Lai - A smile forms into a grima

A smile forms into a grimace [...], first iteration, 2018
Installation view

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Spencer Lai
untitled, 2018
Acrylic on canvas, cellophane, tape, Peruvian butterfly, stems, Chanel gift ribbon, dress pin

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Spencer Lai
untitled, 2018
Misting water system (operating intermittently), water, presence of other objects and entities

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Spencer Lai
untitled, 2018
Acrylic on canvas, cellophane, tape porcupine quills, dress pins

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Spencer Lai
untitled (with and for Lou), 2018
Vinyl, personal lava lamps, family lava lamps, Lou’s lava lamps

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Paul McCarthy (with Mike Kelley)
Family Tyranny/Cultural Soup, 1987
VHS to DVD 15:03 min, color, sound

Spencer Lai - A smile forms into a grima
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Spencer Lai 
untitled, 2018
Structure by Liam Osborne, adhesive, balsa wood, glass, butterfly, foam, dress pins, dust

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Lou Hubbard
Butter Box, 2018
Missoni Sport handbag, butter

Spencer Lai - A smile forms into a grima

Lou Hubbard
Venus, 2018
Plastic sandbox lid, Venetian glass, onyx bracelet, soccer ball

Second Iteration

Spencer Lai with Lou Hubbard, Paul McCarthy (with Mike Kelley), Samraing Chea, Hana Earles,
Christopher LG Hill with Joshua Petherick, Kate Meakin and Elizabeth Newman 

Spencer Lai - A smile forms into a grima

A smile forms into a grimace [...], second iteration, 2018
Installation view

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Hana Earles
Balenciaga Marxist, 2018
Acrylic on canvas, peacock feathers, plinth, cardboard box

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Spencer Lai - A smile forms into a grima
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Spencer Lai
untitled, 2018
Misting water system (operating intermittently), water, plastic storage containers, motion sensor LED strip lighting, spoon, plastic, 1940s Danish ceramic wall vase, plastic cup, early 2000s stoner ornament

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Lou Hubbard
A fling with Prada, 2014
Longchamp and lingerie catalogues, ‘Sugar Daddy’ sugar cube packaging, perforated paper, postage bags, pencil, acetate, cellotape

Spencer Lai - A smile forms into a grima
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Kate Meakin
ever after, 2015
Steel frame, cotton, silk thread, Aesop tin

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Samraing Chea
Everyone thing Dogs put their Machine-interface that controls their Brains, 2014
Crayon and pencil on paper

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Christopher L G Hill with Joshua Petherick
Time out doll (5), 2018
Synthetics, cotton, rubber, bamboo, cardboard, bubble wrap, sticky tape

Various dimensions

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Elizabeth Newman
Untitled (Grey), 2012
Collage on paper, 30 x 21 cm

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Spencer Lai - A smile forms into a grima

A smile forms into a grimace [...], second iteration, 2018
Installation view

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Spencer Lai
a character, a person..... an inherent marker, a value study, 2018
Depression era uranium pansy vase, cellophane, clock component, plastic drinking glasses, clamps, wig stand component

Third iteration

Screening of films curated by Spencer Lai
22nd November from 6:30 – 8:30pm

Films by:

Jordan Wolfson
Beth Caird
Matthew Linde with Harry Hughes and Giovanna Flores
Helen Marten

Documentation courtesy of Christo Crocker

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