This small 7x10x2cm cityscape wall sculpture is called City of Gold 11: Riverbend. It is the 11th 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 work on a mottled, rust- and grey-coloured piece of cement. A bent metal strip forms the ‘river’, and gold-coloured screws comprise the buildings. I find very few gold-coloured nuts, and this one is a ‘sun’. All these bits and bobs I found on the streets of Melbourne during my daily walks.
This work was featured in the Little Festival in Newcastle, NSW, on 1-2 October 2022, and exhibited for the month of October at PlayState Curate.
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.
