Live Laugh Lube - Mieke Marple

Live Laugh Lube is an anxious art project by Mieke Marple probing the nature of visibility in today’s social media era in collaboration with clowns, comedians, and fools. Studies show that social media is connected to increases in anxiety and depression. Yet, for self-employed creatives, like me, signing off feels like career suicide. How do I choose between my mental health and my livelihood? My vision? Live Laugh Lube is not a solution, but it is…something. The project works like this: a comedian gives me a short imperative about visibility which is turned into a painting. Together, we make a video about their message that we co-post on Instagram. The comedian is gifted the painting and recommends two other comedians, one with more visibility and one with less, and the cycle repeats again and again. If you’re wondering why comedians? It’s simple.They’re honest, funny, and weird enough to participate in an art project like this.

Live Laugh Lube installation, Los Angeles 2025, Photo credit Aldo Chacon

Face It, 2025, Acrylic and graphite on canvas, 84 x 47 in. Photo credit Aldo Chacon

Work, 2025, Acrylic and graphite on canvas, 84 x 52 in. Photo credit Aldo Chacon

Live Laugh Lube, 2024, Acrylic and graphite on canvas, 14 x 11 in. Collaboration with Melinda Hill

Never Press Send, 2024, Acrylic and graphite on canvas, 14 x 11 in. Collaboration with Dan Greaney

Be a Hermit, 2024, Acrylic and graphite on canvas, 14 x 11 in. Collaboration with Obehi Janice

Let It Go, 2024, Acrylic and graphite on canvas, 14 x 11 in. Collaboration with Camirin Farmer

Use Face, 2024, Acrylic and graphite on canvas, 14 x 11 in. Collaboration with Claire Woolner

Dump, 2024, Acrylic and graphite on canvas, 14 x 11 in. Collaboration with Reshma Meister

Limit The Replies, 2024, Acrylic and graphite on canvas, 14 x 11 in. Collaboration with Broti Gupta

Mom Dad Look, 2024, Acrylic and graphite on canvas, 14 x 11 in. Collaboration with Brent Forrester

Pick Your Body, 2025, Acrylic and graphite on canvas, 14 x 11 in. Collaboration with Rachel Ho

Quit, 2024, Acrylic and graphite on canvas, 24 x 12 in.

Pray, 2024, Acrylic and graphite on canvas, 24 x 12 in.