photo: Steve Payne

This interactive work asks viewers to spin a wheel of fortune and question a child/oracle about the meaning of a shifting, night-long, monster and child drama.

A 12-foot child/oracle is suspended before us, evoking feelings of tenderness and wonder. Behind her is a giant inflatable spider-like monster, a multi-legged being, considering vengeance for all the insects we have killed. The monster can rise to a great height. Its legs move when we pull on guide ropes, so it also becomes our monster. The child has less room to manoeuvre but she has insight. She speaks to us. She answers our questions. She becomes our oracle.

Mirrored mylar discs are suspended from the child and from the monster, reflecting viewers back to themselves, showing that we can be both innocent and wicked and that we shouldn't be too sanctimonious or too complacent. This work will provide an opportunity for viewers to safely explore the darker pull of their imaginations and to feel the conflicting pull of chance, risk and responsibility. It sends us out into the night with the oracles answer.

Libby Hague works and lives in Toronto. She studied fine art at Concordia and recently has done a residency in Ireland and participated in group exhibitions at the Galati Visual Art Museum, Romania; the Chung Shan National Gallery, Taiwan; Impact 7, Melbourne, Australia; IPCNY (N.Y and Austin); the Novosibirsk State Art Museum, Russia and The Civic Art Museum, Cremona, Italy. Her recent Toronto exhibitions are Synchromesh (Loop), Be Brave! We are in this together(YYZ),and Sympathetic Connections (AGO).

www.libbyhague.com/