This small 11x11x3cm cityscape wall sculpture is called City of Gold 9: By Starlight. It is the 9th 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 red- and silvery-coloured piece of faux granite cut in the shape of a trapezoid. The gold screws of various shapes and sizes formed the ‘buildings’, plus one unidentified gold-coloured something-or-other is the highest one by far. It’s a starry night. All these bits and bobs I found on the streets of Melbourne during my daily walks.
This work was in the exhibition Gold Rush at The Old Auction House in Kyneton, VIC, in February-March 2022. Later that year, in October, it was featured in the Little Festival held in Newcastle, NSW, at the Playstate Create Gallery.
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.
