Since the 20th century, and with the New Materialist turn, materials used within sculptural practice have been understood to have agency Rocks happy to help #21b extends an understanding of abfunctional material possibilities in an artwork through the synchronous engagement of red calca granite and glass. Here, the process of the casting glass bubble in conjunction with the granite stone determines the form and shape of the glass bubble. As an outcome the glass performs the unlikely act of suspending and balancing the long horizontal heavy length of granite. This act of suspension reveals the uncanny capacity of glass, a material understood to be fragile and weak to hold unexpected weight of the widely spanned granite.
NTRO Output Category
- Original Creative Work : Visual artwork
Place
Melbourne, AustraliaVenue
Sarah Scout Presents, The Spring 1883 Art Fair, The Windsor Hotel, MelbourneNTRO Publisher
Sarah Scout PresentsStart Date
2023-08-09End Date
2023-08-12Medium
Calca red granite from the lands of the Wirangu people and glassResearch 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 blown glass between two horizontal Calca red granite “beams”.
Rocks happy to help #21b extends an understanding of abfunctional material possibilities in an artwork through the synchronous engagement of red calca granite and glass. Here, the process of the casting glass bubble in conjunction with the granite stone determines the form and shape of the glass bubble. As an outcome the glass performs the unlikely act of suspending and balancing the long horizontal heavy length of granite. This act of suspension reveals the uncanny capacity of glass, a material understood to be fragile and weak to hold unexpected weight of the widely spanned granite.
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
200cm x 30cm x 30cm Exhibition duration: 09/08/2023-12/08/2023Affiliation
Simone Slee, University of Melbourne
