January 14 2011
Sally Brown is one of Tasmania’s most exciting early-career furniture designers. She has been a popular participant in previous DeFT exhibitions, notably Egg Ei Oeuf, and Tidal Zone. Her work is mainly bespoke due to the nature of the materials she uses.
For her first solo exhibition, Sally plans to create a research body of work on the theme of re-use of salvaged materials. The work will model clever and creative uses for industrial and domestic waste and explore how best to combat the inherent weaknesses and flaws in such fabrics through the use of stainless steel and carbon fibre shells. A critical component of the work will be to demonstrate that used materials can be reworked into sophisticated new products with high material value.
Sally Brown: Artist Statement for Remade
I design and make handcrafted furniture and sculptural and functional art objects. The re-use of materials [is a] theme that has been emerging in my more recent work, and has become a significant aspect of my design practice. There are two other strong sub-themes in my work: organic forms inspired by the natural environment, and the use of textile-based materials and techniques.
I am interested in the re-use of materials for three reasons; environmental awareness, aesthetics and the creative process. There is much potential in art, design and manufacture to utilise materials that are currently wasted or overlooked. By thinking creatively, alternative uses and design solutions can help to divert waste from landfill and reduce the demand on precious natural resources. I believe that salvaged materials can be used in a clever and sophisticated way to create high quality art and design pieces. Salvaged materials bring character and patina to a piece, and a sense of history that can add layers of meaning to the work.
I work in an experimental way, exploring the functional potential of a material or process. The choice of material and the design develop simultaneously. This approach to designing lends itself to working with salvaged materials, which can be creatively stimulating, resulting in new and different applications.
