Delaine Le Bas

Square peg, round hole. NO!

Delaine Le Bas is a Turner Prize nominee and one of Britain’s most prolific contemporary artists. She identifies as a Romani Gypsy, as well as a hippie, punk and outsider. Her practice explores themes of identity, nationhood, land, belonging and gender, addressing the enduring discrimination and misrepresentation faced by her community.

Square peg, round hole. NO! materialises a familiar metaphor—one Le Bas says captures how she feels navigating a system from which she is often excluded. The “square ball” is both a linguistic paradox and an unruly, unpredictable playing companion. It invites players to reflect on the experiences of the Romani Sinti community and ‘othered’ peoples more broadly. At the same time, it levels the playing field, forcing skilled golfers to embrace uncertainty and adapt their strategies.

Installation view of ‘Square peg, round hole. NO!‘, Delaine Le Bas (2025). Commissioned by RISING Melbourne. PHOTO: Eugene Hyland.