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Rock holding up #13

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posted on 2025-04-01, 02:59 authored by SIMONE SLEESIMONE SLEE
Since the 20th century, and with the New Materialist turn, materials used within sculptural practice have been understood to have agency. Rocks holding together #2 extends an understanding of abfunctional material possibilities in an artwork through the synchronous engagement of Harcourt granite from the lands of the Dja Dja Wurrung and glass. Here, the process of the sandwiching the hot blown glass bubble between the granite stone determines the form and shape of the glass bubble. As an outcome the glass uncannily supports the weight of the top cut granite - a material understood to be fragile and weak calling into question what it is that holds us up.

History

Add to Elements

  • Yes

NTRO Output Type

  • Original Creative Work

NTRO Output Category

  • Original Creative Work : Visual artwork

Place

Melbourne, Australia

Venue

Sarah Scout Presents, The Spring 1883 Art Fair, The Windsor Hotel, Melbourne

NTRO Publisher

Sarah Scout Presents

Start Date

2024-04-17

End Date

2024-06-01

Medium

Harcourt Granite, from the lands of the Dja Dja Wurrung and glass

Research Statement

Since the 20th century, and with the New Materialist turn, materials used within sculptural practice have been understood to have agency. This sculptural work questions how the notion of abfunction (a neologism that identifies the move away from function in the outcomes and production of art), can invert expected material agency within sculptural practice through the process of sandwiching hot blown glass between two vertical Harcourt granite cut stone. Rocks holding together #2 extends an understanding of abfunctional material possibilities in an artwork through the synchronous engagement of Harcourt granite from the lands of the Dja Dja Wurrung and glass. Here, the process of the sandwiching the hot blown glass bubble between the granite stone determines the form and shape of the glass bubble. As an outcome the glass uncannily supports the weight of the top cut granite - a material understood to be fragile and weak calling into question what it is that holds us up. This artwork, was exhibited as a part of the group exhibition of the well respected commercial gallery, Sarah Scout Presents installation at Spring 1883, in the Windsor Hotel, Melbourne, 2023. This series of artwork has been instrumental in the invitation to produce a solo exhibition at Heide Museum of Art, at the iconic McGlashan and Everist modernist house in 2026.

Size or Duration of Work

30 cm x 80cm x 30cm Exhibition duration: 09/08/2023-12/08/2023

Affiliation

Simone Slee, University of Melbourne

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