The name of this small 6x12x2cm cityscape wall sculpture is City on the Hill 1. Small rectangular pieces of metal form the ‘buildings’. A strangely cut piece of sheet metal is the ‘hill’, and a slug is the ‘sun’. All these bits and bobs I found on the streets of Melbourne during my daily walks. For mounting, I’ve used a piece of red faux granite I found in Laos and brought home in my luggage.
This miniature artwork was in my solo exhibition Cityscapes from City Streets, held at the North Melbourne Library from December 2019 to January 2020. In that exhibition, the buildings were only at the top of the hill. I decided to add the lower buildings in 2022.
I am a found object assemblage artist and jewellery designer, creating wall sculptures, 3D sculptures, art magnets and brooches. My ‘raw materials’ are limited 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 suggests a meandering river, rusted sheet metal transforms into a cloud, or a broken tile 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.
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.
