Industrial designers showcase their metallic material at Gaffa Gallery in Sydney

Gaffa Gallery follows up 2007’s ‘Interpretations’ exhibition curated by Andrew Simpson of Vert Design, with a new series of works in the Surry Hills space.

Glass took centre stage at the first edition, but this year ‘Interpretations II’ forges a focus on sheet metal, asking five industrial designers to interpret the material.

‘Garden Party’ by Bernabeifreeman evades the notion of metal as a “harsh serious material” with an abstract “digital interpretation” of flowers, using aluminium punched with 1200 holes to create a metal lace effect.

Simpson’s take was centred on the geometric, with a heavy-duty truncated octahedron armchair, which can be turned over to offer two seating positions – reclined and upright.

Geometry is key to the intricate shapes exhibited by Phillippa Carnenolla, who combined her interest in origami and spirituality to conceive surprising “meditative pieces for such a secular material”, using chemically etched folded metal. 

Trent Jensen’s ‘Bollard’ plays with the destruction of the material, using controlled rust decoratively to “counteract the negative association we have with the ageing of the material”.

‘Barbeque 1 and 2’ by Oliver Smith showcased his renowned metalwork skills with an aesthetic approach to an industrial staple.

“The diversity and ingenuity of the ‘Interpretation’ designers has really impressed me and I see that the exhibition is more proof that through necessity Australian designers have become skilled in all aspects of the design process,” says Simpson.

‘Interpretations II’, until 24 November at the Gaffa Gallery, 1/7 Randle Street, Surry Hills.

gaffa.com.au