This small 7x10x2cm cityscape wall sculpture is called City of Gold 10: Riverside. It is the 10th in my Cities of Gold series, which I have been working on for several years, and which I will limit to 12 in total.
I mounted this wall sculpture on a black piece of metal with a hook on the back. A long thin piece of metal forms the ‘river’. Variously shaped gold-coloured items, including a zipper pull, bulldog clip, fasteners form the ‘buildings’. And what better ‘moon’ than the top of a thumbtack. These bits and bobs I found on the streets of Melbourne during my daily walks.
This work was featured in an exhibition at PlayState Curate as part of the Little Festival in Newcastle, NSW, in October 2022. Now it is available for sale from Incube8r Gallery in Melbourne Central.
What inspires me
I am a found object assemblage artist and jewellery designer, creating wall sculptures, 3D sculptures and brooches. I limit my ‘raw materials’ to the metal, wood, tiles and plastic that I gather from streets and skips.
Many of my works are inspired by the Melbourne skyline, especially at sunrise and sunset. Often I try to incorporate ‘natural features’ – a bent nail that suggests a meandering river, rusted sheet metal that transforms into a cloud, or a broken tile that becomes a mountain.
My more abstract works are stimulated by the found objects themselves, which I often place in juxtaposition. At other times, I emphasise their rusted, scratched or variegated surfaces.
Strong interest in sustainability
My art is inspired by a strong interest in sustainability through repurposing and upcycling. My hope is that this artwork makes you smile and, at the same time, reminds you of the 5Rs to help our planet: refuse, reduce, reuse, repurpose and recycle.
