Dying of Laughter

Presented at the São Paulo Biennale in 2002, this installation consists of large-scale self-portraits of Marcos Chaves laughing hysterically accompanied by a soundtrack of pre-recorded laughter. The audience finds itself surrounded by these hilarious and grinning faces, while a sequence of uncontrollable laughing, sometimes to the point of tears, can be heard through headphones. Exploring the fine line between joy and sadness, unease and complicity, the concept generates mixed feelings by working like a mirror for the human soul expressing itself in all its forms, whether in pain, grief or extravagance.