Real Fake 001 (2017) 2 Day Experimental Interaction 
July 29th - 30th 2017
Tate Modern, London UK
 
 

Lisa Marie Harris RESPONSES CookeLathamGallery

INSTALLATION VIEW
Images courtesy the artist
 
 

Playing with the format of a social psychology experiment, Real Fake 001 (2017) synthesised tactile works by Lisa-Marie Harris with the research of Professor Lasana T. Harris, a social neuroscientist at University College London, to observe what processes people use to decide whether they were interacting with something that was real or fake. Using disembodied sculptural hair objects within the spatial design of an experiment, patrons at the Tate Exchange were allowed to pull, sniff, rustle and hold matching bundles of hair across three texture groupings for a set period of time; they were then asked by an experimenter whether the hair was real or fake. From both strands of inquiry, Real Fake acted as a locus of disarmament, challenging preconceived notions around how people decide to validate or invalidate the information gathered in an interaction with humans and bodies, or in this case, bodily matter. The collaborative performance was staged in collaboration with the University of Westminster, and the Institute of Philosophy University of London.