Some Kind of Empire

Kate Rohde

Papier-mache stags, plasticine foxes, faux-fur squirrels and polystyrene-filled peacocks are just some of the curiosities that had previously appeared in Kate Rohde’s opulent museum styled exhibits. In 2006, the Melbourne-based sculptor and installation artist continued her longstanding investigations into the history and aesthetics of natural history museums, by transforming the diorama-like space of Gertrude Contemporary's Front Gallery into an expansive, Rococo styled trophy-room amassed with handcrafted, faux-taxidermy animals and exotic floral arrangements. Rohde’s quirky and kitsch installation explored the spiritual, mythological, and symbolic meanings invested in wildlife, and the human desire to create and control nature for educational and aesthetic purposes. Having returned from a residency in Arnhem Land, the installation referred to the manifold histories and cultures of collecting, and to the commodification of nature in western society. Kate Rohde holds a BA Fine Arts (Honours) from the VCA. Recent solo exhibitions include Vicious Precious, Latrobe Regional Gallery, Morwell, 2006; Chateau Fatale, Westspace, Melbourne, 2005; and Perfect Specime, Kaliman Gallery, Sydney, 2004. Rohde is represented by Kaliman Gallery, Sydney.