An evolving exhibition of contemporary jewellery/body adornment and objects by eight makers from Aotearoa New Zealand, and Melbourne Australia; Kelly McDonald, Victoria McIntosh, Neke Moa, Rowan Panther, Claire McArdle, Cara Johnson, Inari Kiuru and Lisa Waup, with curator Heather Galbraith.
First iteration was presented as part of Radiant Pavilion, Melbourne 4-12 September 2021, with a Public Zoom Webinar Saturday 11 September 2021 (4pm NZ time, 2pm Naarm/Melbourne time), and the launch of this website. The second iteration ‘Deep Material Energy’ exhibition at The Suter Gallery, Nelson, Aotearoa New Zealand was held 19 February-15 May 2023, with the third iteration ‘Deep Material Energy II’ held at the Australian Design Centre, Sydney, Australia 5 October-22 November 2023 (supported by Creative New Zealand). The fourth iteration ‘Deep Material Energy III’ was held at RMIT Galleries as part of Radiant Pavilion, 14 September-16 November 2024.
Cara Johnson, 'Hollow' (detail), 2020, found tree guard, found silage net, dimensions variable. Image credit. Fred Kroh
Inari Kiuru, 'Eye, the beholder', 2021, mixed media, found and synthetic materials. Image credit. Inari Kiuru. I’ve been thinking about the idea of ‘contemporary hunter-gathering’ lately, based on my decade-long habit of local walks, on which I often pick up small discarded things and contemplate the nature of ‘beauty’, change and the passing of time, along with materiality. This body of work investigates the way I see: what I notice; what I find interesting, and how this carries forward into my practice. The origins of many of my pieces, as well as material experiments, lie in the recognising the importance of noticing small detail and curiously noting what surrounds us in our everyday environment. - The work for our show could consist of images and small collections of objects, organic as well as synthetic human debris, and perhaps include a booklet of photos/drawings with free-form writing.
Claire McArdle, 'Hold', 2021, reused steel, brass, recycled messmate (Eucalyptus obliqua), 220x115x65mm. Photo: Claire McArdle. The work will be a series of objects that hold tube. The tube will be cut in each of the 'Hold' pieces and strung into neckpieces in a performance.
Kelly McDonald, 'Thar she blows', 2020
Victoria McIntosh, 'Fat', 2020, vintage hand mirrors, sandblasted, underwear fabric, knicker elastic, ribbon, pearls, assorted sizes. Image credit. Victoria McIntosh
Lisa Waup, 'Marked Time', 2021, found watch parts, found clock parts, emu feathers, cotton thread, acrylic hoop, 290 x 270 x 35mm. Image credit. Lisa Waup
Neke Moa, 'Nan', 2021, tofe shell, muka, paint, 150 x 150mm. Image credit. Neke Moa
Rowan Panther, 'Brooch #1', 2019, muka, stg silver, 18ct gold, 360 x 360mm. Image credit. Rowan Panther
Kelly McDonald, 'Winners never change the rules – bubble blower pendant', 2020, steel, 170 x 105mm. Image credit.Kelly McDonald
Victoria McIntosh, 'Full Bloom', 2020, found brass vases, upholstery vinyl, ribbon, paint, 300 x 160 x 160mm each. Image credit. Victoria McIntosh
Lisa Waup, 'Marked Time', 2021 (detail), hand dyed fibre, found watch parts, found clock parts, emu feathers, cotton thread, acrylic hoop, 290 x 270 x 35mm. Image credit. Lisa Waup
Inari Kiuru, 'Eye, the beholder 2', 2021, mixed media, found natural and synthetic materials, dimensions variable. Image credit. Inari Kiuru
Lisa Waup, collected materials for 'Marked Time', 2021
Claire McArdle, 'Hold', 2021, reused steel, brass, recycled messmate (Eucalyptus obliqua), 220 x 115 x 65mm. Image credit. Claire McArdle. The work will be a series of objects that hold tube. The tube will be cut in each of the 'Hold' pieces and strung into neckpieces in a performance.
Rowan Panther, 'Lei #4', 2021 (process image). Image credit. Rowan Panther
We would like to acknowledge the traditional custodians, the tangata whenua, of the unceded lands on which we live and within which we make our work across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand, and we pay our respects to their elders/ancestors past, present, and future.