Cabra Charms
Mixed Metals

ROBERT FOSTER METAL PRIZE Finalist
Craft + Design Canberra
1 November - 14 December

STITCH AS CODE
Curatorial Team
Dr Anne Farren, Dr Aleksa Bijelovic, Chris Mewburn
2 - 18 September 2024

This exhibition is proud to be part of the the IOTA24 Festival, supported by Lotterywest.

Supported by UNSW Art and Design Research Output Scheme Grant.

Photography
1. + 2. + 3. Jennifer Chua
4. Courtesy of the Artist
5. Curtinweekly

Stitch as Code — an exhibition presented as part of the 2024 Indian Ocean Craft Triennial (IOTA24), a high-profile international program of events running from August to October 2024 and featuring major exhibitions of work by makers from around the Indian Ocean Rim (IOR).

This series of metal-based objects explores personal narratives and diaspora placed-based making as a form of creative production. I reflect on the place I grew up in Cabramatta, where a strong sense of the environment has provided migrants like my family a strong sense of connection to place and sense of self. Cabramatta is rich in cultural familiarities identified through shop fronts displays, eateries, and packaging. Drawing inspiration from the visual design, a series of archetypes are drawn on to capture these links. Informed by personal experiences of growing up the series of objects are designed to honour place and acknowledge the multi-cultural dimension and migrant stories. The series of handmade metal objects aim to capture the visual popular cultural vernacular to tell stories of place, identity and the everyday. 

Each object in the series uses metaphorical construction in its visual design. I am interested in how surface language can be constructed from processes of design and contemporary craft jewellery and object to build narratives of place informed by my personal experiences of growing up in the area. I take motifs that are common and juxtapose these through methods of construction for new interpretation. By working through these processes, the contextualisation of imagery and text present tangible points of dialogue and navigation connecting past and present.

This series of metal-based objects delves into personal narratives and the connection between diaspora and place-based creativity. Reflecting on my upbringing in Cabramatta, I draw inspiration from the rich cultural tapestry of the environment, where migrants like my family find a deep sense of belonging. Through visual cues such as shopfront displays, eateries, and packaging, I explore the cultural familiarity of the area. The series of handmade metal objects pays homage to Cabramatta and its multicultural essence, aiming to tell stories of place, identity, and everyday life.

Each object in the series employs metaphorical construction in its visual design, drawing from processes of contemporary craft jewelry and object-making. I reinterpret common motifs through various construction methods to offer fresh perspectives. By contextualizing imagery and text, these objects serve as tangible points of connection between past and present, fostering dialogue and navigation of personal and collective histories.