Liesl Raff's sculptures explore the nuances of physical and social interactions through a profound appreciation of diverse materials and persistent experimentation. Her work features a semiotics of materials that begins where words fail. Recently, she has used natural rubber to showcase its adaptable and shape-shifting properties. Standing near or within Raff's pieces, you experience a transition into a warm, cozy, and calm state, feeling a sense of dependability and safety. Her sculptures integrate seamlessly with their surroundings, promoting contact and interaction. Raff creates gathering spaces that encourage connections between people, her works, and their environment. Her art is about living with and learning from her materials, fostering engagement, and eliminating the distance between the work and the viewer.
Loop 2
2021
Latex, rope, bamboo, pigment, talcum
Installation dimensions variable
© Liesl Raff
Loop 3
2021
Latex, rope, bamboo, pigment, talcum
Installation dimensions variable
© Liesl Raff
Loop 4
2021
Latex, rope, bamboo, pigment, talcum
Installation dimensions variable
© Liesl Raff
Blind (Yellow)
2023
Latex, steel, yarn, rope, talcum
252 x 185 x 10 cm / 99 1/4 x 72 7/8 x 3 7/8 in
© Liesl Raff
Shed
2023
Latex, metal, palm leaves, talcum
© Liesl Raff
Den
2022
Latex, rope, jute, pigment, silicone oil
270 x 130 x 100 cm / 106 1/4 x 51 1/8 x 39 3/8 in
© Liesl Raff
Coat 1
2022
Latex, metal, rope, fabric, pigment, silicone oil dimensions variable
200 x 420 x 30 cm / 78 3/4 x 165 3/8 x 11 3/4 in
© Liesl Raff
Coat 4
2022
Latex, metal, rope, fabric, pigment, silicone oil dimensions variable
275 x 180 x 30 cm / 108 1/4 x 70 7/8 x 11 3/4 in
© Liesl Raff
Keeper 1
2022
Metal, colophonium
20 x 15 x 10 cm / 7 7/8 x 5 7/8 x 3 7/8 in
© Liesl Raff
Keeper 4
2022
Metal, colophonium
20 x 15 x 10 cm / 7 7/8 x 5 7/8 x 3 7/8 in
© Liesl Raff
Liaisons
2021
Latex, rope, metal dimensions variable
278 x 500 x 500 cm / 109 1/2 x 196 7/8 x 196 7/8 in
© Liesl Raff
Transition 3
2020
Palm leaves, latex, steel, aluminium wire, talcon, silicone oil
dimensions variable
© Liesl Raff
Pool 2
2020
Epoxy resin, latex, talcum, nylon
22 x 55 x 40 cm / 8 5/8 x 21 5/8 x 15 3/4 in
© Liesl Raff
Cascade
2020
Palm leaf, latex, talcum, steel, aluminium wire, rope
335 x 150 x 120 cm / 131 7/8 x 59 x 47 1/4 in
© Liesl Raff
Retreat
2019
Latex, steel, glass fiber, polyester, wire strap, yarn
175 x 110 x 75 cm / 68 7/8 x 43 1/4 x 29 1/2 in
© Liesl Raff
Head 1
2017
Sheet steel, paint, silicone oil
47 x 37 x 11 cm / 18 1/2 x 14 5/8 x 4 3/8 in
© Liesl Raff
Head 3
2017
Sheet steel, paint, silicone oil
29 x 37 x 11 cm / 11 3/8 x 14 5/8 x 4 3/8 in
© Liesl Raff
