This is a small sculpture I made in 2017 at my home studio. The base is a piece of heavy painted black plywood. I mounted rusted bolts, nuts, rods and other unidentified pieces of metal to it. These bits and bobs were all on the streets of Melbourne, and I picked them up during my daily walks.
Although I created some representational works that year, the majority were more abstract or geometrical. They often juxtaposed different types of found objects, such as nuts and bobby pins, or cream chargers and hair clips.
My palette during this time was essentially silver-coloured, rust-coloured, wood grain and black. With such a limited colour range, I was fascinated with the subtle variations in scratches, patina and sheen of the objects I found. Many of the metal pieces had turned a fine shade of rust from months or years on the street before I ‘rescued’ them. This sculpture includes an interesting selection of such pieces.
I exhibited this work in the Melbourne City Library exhibition, From the Streets of Melbourne, in 2018.
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.
