As Melbourne Design Week comes to a close, we’re reflecting on the standout exhibition ‘Interwoven’ by The ARTL—NE. Curated by Marsha Golemac, this multidisciplinary showcase brought together eight leading Australian creatives, spanning from art direction to food design.
Seamlessly exploring the threads that bind us to our environment and community, their exhibition served as a gentle reminder of the transformative power art and design wield in shaping our systems, objects, beings, and modes of thought. Delve into our exhibition highlights below, uncovering the intricate narratives within these exceptional works of art.
Lillie Thompson presents ‘Pantiddirìa’
Lillie’s work communicates entire stories in a single frame. Through her lens, places and objects are elevated to new realms and suspended in hyperreal worlds. Her installation ‘Pantiddirìa’ explores Pantelleria’s otherworldly beauty and age-old agricultural practices. The volcanic Italian island lies in the Sicilian Strait, 68 kilometres east of the Tunisian coast. The black, jagged rocks and towering cliffs over the ocean create an intense, almost surreal backdrop.
Pantelleria’s rocky landscape features aromatic shrubs and wildflowers, nourished by the nutrient-rich volcanic soil despite its dry climate. The island’s name, Pantiddirìa, in Pantesco dialect, is derived from the Arabic name Bent el Riah, meaning ‘Daughter of the Winds’, which pays homage to the hot Sirocco winds from Africa and the powerful gales from the east. Signs of life on the island blend into the landscape, with its UNESCO-listed dry lava rock wall terraced vineyards, expanses of ancient olive groves, traditional dammuso houses, and their distinctive domed rooftops. Life on the island illuminates the deep connection between culture and nature, a testament to the island’s enduring and ancient agricultural heritage.
The ‘Pantiddirìa’ media installation by Lillie Thompson, accompanied by a floral installation by Brær STUDIO and Natalie Davis | Photography by Lillie Thompson
The ‘Pantiddirìa’ media installation by Lillie Thompson, accompanied by a floral installation by Brær STUDIO and Natalie Davis | Photography by Lillie Thompson
The ‘Pantiddirìa’ media installation by Lillie Thompson, accompanied by a floral installation by Brær STUDIO and Natalie Davis | Photography by Lillie Thompson
The Casa-Refugi’ [home-shelter] installation by Cristina Guerrero Fernández featuring a poem by Martina Zuccaro, crafted from printed silk, repurposed textiles and rope, cotton thread, embroidery and organic matter | Photography by Lillie Thompson
Cristina Guerrero Fernández presents ‘Casa-Refugi’
Cristina’s work is quietly powerful, bold and intriguing. Perfectly sparse and mesmerising in composition, her practice examines the world from unique angles. Her installation ‘Casa-Refugi’ [home-shelter] resembles a textile refuge, delving into the intricate bonds between individuals and their surroundings, whether tangible or unseen, where the notion of self extends into the interconnected fabric of communal existence. Emphasising materiality, assembly, and everyday documentary photography, inhabiting evolves into embodiment through the lyrical portrayal of landscapes. Featuring a poem from collaborator Martina Zuccaro, the installation provides an immersive place for encounter, inviting a reconsideration of perspectives.
The Casa-Refugi’ [home-shelter] installation by Cristina Guerrero Fernández featuring a poem by Martina Zuccaro, crafted from printed silk, repurposed textiles and rope, cotton thread, embroidery and organic matter | Photography by Lillie Thompson
The Casa-Refugi’ [home-shelter] installation by Cristina Guerrero Fernández featuring a poem by Martina Zuccaro, crafted from printed silk, repurposed textiles and rope, cotton thread, embroidery and organic matter | Photography by Lillie Thompson
Josh Robenstone presents ‘AUTO’
Josh’s work ‘AUTO’ explores the process of documentation in a time and place where there is little left to the imagination. The internet and social media allow the dissemination of information in real time, often from one algorithmic perspective. Doom Scrolling in a post truth world, through shared experiences and news items, is our new form of expression and access to information, whether factual or not. AUTO documents drag racing culture and presents on one hand, the evidence of reality: a photographic documentation and an artefact, and on the other, its online authentication. With this, the artist challenges the viewer to explore the reality of our lived experience and what it means to truly understand and participate in what we’re seeing and the world we are a part of.
‘Auto’ by Josh Robenstone, made from archival Inkjet print, single-channel video and used Hoosier Race Tyre | Photography by Lillie Thompson
‘Auto’ by Josh Robenstone, made from archival Inkjet print, single-channel video and used Hoosier Race Tyre | Photography by Lillie Thompson
Natalie Petrevski presents ‘Kapa’
As former Fashion Editor of Australian luxury title RUSSH, Natalie Petrevski oversaw the editorial direction of both its print publication and digital channels. Petrevski’s work ‘Kapa’ celebrates the diversity, individuality, and enduring allure of adornment. Created alongside Georges Antoni, each portrait within this series serves as a window into a unique narrative, where the artistry of headwear becomes a language of expression, tradition, and identity.
The work invites viewers to explore the multifaceted layers of symbolism, heritage, and personal style and to contemplate the significance of headwear beyond its aesthetic appeal. Whether steeped in tradition, fashion, or function, these pieces serve as bridges between past and present, between cultures and generations, reminding us of the rich tapestry of human expression that lies woven within the fabric of human history and experience.
‘Kapa’ by Natalie Petrevski, crafted from archival pigment print on Alpha-cellulose and cotton rag | Photography by Lillie Thompson and Georges Antoni
‘Kapa’ by Natalie Petrevski, crafted from archival pigment print on Alpha-cellulose and cotton rag | Photography by Lillie Thompson and Georges Antoni
‘Kapa’ by Natalie Petrevski, crafted from archival pigment print on Alpha-cellulose and cotton rag | Photography by Lillie Thompson and Georges Antoni
Sian Redgrave presents ‘Bella Brutta’
With authenticity at the heart of her practice, Sian is recognised for her tasteful approach to heartfelt cooking, conversation and inspired curation. Redgrave’s ‘Bella Brutta’ is at the intersection of food and design—deeply interwoven in human existence—and offers a captivating and enriching journey. Food emerges as an indisputable cornerstone within this tapestry, providing nourishment, sustenance, and a platform for communal traditions. Inspired by the work of Isamu Noguchi, Bella Brutta delves into the realm of edible materials, integrating them into lighting structures to illuminate both the enduring essence and fleeting beauty of food.
‘Bella Brutta’ by Sian Redgrave, made from stainless steel, mixed food materials, cotton and ink | Photography by Photography by Lillie Thompson
‘Bella Brutta’ by Sian Redgrave, made from stainless steel, mixed food materials, cotton and ink | Photography by Lillie Thompson
‘Bella Brutta’ by Sian Redgrave, made from stainless steel, mixed food materials, cotton and ink | Photography by Photography by Lillie Thompson
TRiC presents ‘Wanderings’
TRiC’s ‘Wanderings,’ a single-channel video collaboration with Chloe Papas and Marissa Hor, is an exploratory exercise in which the outcome is formed by the process itself. Drawing from TRiC’s collaborative practice, each member captures a word from their surroundings and passes it on, sparking a chain reaction of responses that form an abstract narrative. Wanderings explores the vernacular of visual communication and TRiC’s commitment to collective creative exploration, the organic growth of ideas, and being present in the world.
Catalogue of works available upon request.
‘Wanderings’ presented by The ARTL—NE, curated and directed by Marsha Golemac and hosted by Boffi Studio Melbourne | Photography by Lillie Thompson
‘Wanderings’ presented by The ARTL—NE, curated and directed by Marsha Golemac and hosted by Boffi Studio Melbourne | Photography by Lillie Thompson
Melbourne Design Week runs from 23rd May – 2nd June 2024.