Roderick Laperdrix

Born 1986 in Nieuwvliet, the Netherlands
Currently living and working in London, United Kingdom

‘Hermit. I wonder what the world is doing now.’
Henry David Thoreau, Walden; or; Life in the woods

I am fascinated by the concept of the recluse living a simple secluded life in natural surroundings; especially the role of this concept in modern society. One of my main inspirations for my art practice is, and has been, the book Walden; or; Life in the woods by Henry David Thoreau. In the spring of 1845 Thoreau built a cabin in the woods near Walden Ponds in Concord, Massachussets where for two years he lived a secluded life. Next to his daily activities the book describes his meditations about modern society and human existence. Thoreau believed that the sicknesses of the contemporary soul could well be cured by a rediscovery of living in nature.

Thoreau provides almost diagrammatic instructions on how to live in the woods. I found similar obsessive instructions in survival guide books. Illustrating and informing in a very formal manner how to deal with dangerous situations one could encounter when living in nature. I started reconstructing these illustrations in drawings combined with small sculpted figures that perform eccen...

Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design, London
MA Fine Art

BA, Fontys Academy for Visual Arts, Tilburg, NL
Fine Art and Education

Exchange Semester, University of Applied Arts, AT
Photography

22-05-2014 Graduation show Central Saint Martins // Lethaby Gallery, London, UK
27-11-2013 Group exhibition “Lost Property” // Netil House, London, UK
22-11-2013 Group exhibition “Tomorrow I’ll be elsewhere” as part of the Bill Woodrow Late Night event // Royal Academy, London, UK
08-11-2013 Group exhibition “Tomorrow I’ll be elsewhere” // A-Side B-Side Gallery, London, UK
14-05-2013 Group exhibition “In Transit” // V22, London, UK
27-01-2012 Group exhibition “Gloednieuw” // NWE Vorst, Tilburg, NL
05-10-2011 Graduation show // Gorettikapel, Tilburg, NL
02-12-2010 Group exhibition “Culture Shock Live” // Heuvelpoort, Tilburg, NL
04-02-2010 Group exhibition “Leerling Meester” // Kunstpodium-T, Tilburg, NL
26-12-2009 Group exhibition “Artificial Hibernation” // Kelderman en van Noort, Eindhoven, NL
12-05-2009 Group exhibition “A piece of Water” // Kunstlerhaus, Vienna, AT