2007

Open: Simona Chytil
Student: Chantelle Fischer
Highly Recommended: Corrie Wright

Simona Chytil

Artist Statement

Contemporary jeweller Simona Chytil is a graduate from The royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (majoring in Gold & Silversmithing). Now based in Noosa Australia her studio practice is divided between developing new ranges of work, private commissions and exhibitions. She has also participated in various advertising and promotional campaigns; most notably for Landrover, Absolute Vodka and Lord of the Rings.

Photo Credit: Moon Brooch, Simona Chytil

Chantelle Fisher

Artist Statement

My works exist as entities that explore not only the transformaties that exist between the landscape and those who occupy it, but also reveal a censure upon the way that consumer society views and manages the land and its natural resources. Accordingly, land is not viewed as something to be preserved and cared for, but rather seen as a profitable commodity within a society that is increasingly driven by the colour of money.

Photo Credit: Brooch 1, Chantelle Fisher

Corrie Wright

Artist Statement

‘x-change’ + ‘react’ + ‘merge’ considers connections.

These connections are observations that reduce the physical distance between one thing and another and between people and things. Connections are based on the belief that all relationships with the environment, be it natural or human environments are implicitly linked, fully dependant on each other and need not to be considered separate. The process requires an understanding of practice that connects and contributes to ‘art in nature’ through the ideas, materials, skill, participation, outcome and the audience response.

‘x-change’ investigates and connects the function of materials; are they waste or resources that can alter our perception about value? They also respond to the conditioning of our times and the place in which we are living and become fundamental to the mystery of existence.

‘react’ investigates materials that are not far from their original origin they beckon to get close, relate and question the patterns of connection that we all participate in. These musings are small, compact, quite and inward orientated the silent place we often need to find when considering outside influences.

‘merge’ embraces collaboration, by not solely owning the experience the work is a shared experience. People were contacted and asked to make a ‘worry doll’ and write their worry either on a personal, community or global level. I have endeavored through these works to have a visual conversation with their responses (safe houses) that reference the language the feeling and the hope for change.

Photo Credit: Worry Doll Houses (Merge), Corrie Wright