A rare opportunity to hear from renowned Australian contemporary artist Luke Roberts; the artist behind Her Divine Holiness Pope Alice/Santa Alicia.
In conversation with curator Nicholas Tsoutas, Luke will share intimate details of the spectacle and grandeur of HDH Pope Alice. What is it that creates such an awe-struck audience, completely absorbed in this live performance?
Luke describes Her Divine Holiness Pope Alice as, ‘a manifestation of Extraterrestrial Supra-Consciousness, and an Ambassadress from Infinity; an involuntary interloper to Planet Earth from beyond the Fifth Dimension. She fell from the skies, witnessed both Atlantis and Lemuria and now wanders the Earth in circles to usher in the New Era’.
43 years since the inimitable Pope Alice made her debut at Spring Hill Gallery in Brisbane, she has continued to make show-stopping appearances throughout the contemporary art world. One of her most recent encounters was at Tasmania’s Dark Mofo festival during winter solstice in 2022, with sell-out performances over multiple nights.
Although there won’t be a physical encounter with Pope Alice on the evening, Luke will discuss the artistic process behind this character embodiment and the physical makings of Pope Alice’s costumes with original pieces from the State Library Collection on display.
Please join us on this auspicious date of the feast day of Saint Alice and the upcoming winter solstice for a revelatory conversation.
Guests attending are encouraged to dress in costume attire.
Image Attribution: Picture of the artist Luke Roberts, 2022. Photograph by Joe Ruckli.
